Ashenvale Ashenvale , also known as Ashenvale Forest , is a wilderness region south of Darkshore and Felwood , west of Azshara , and north of the Stonetalon Mountains and the Barrens . Ashenvale is also the term used for the larger forested region which includes most of western Hyjal including Azshara . It is the ancestral homeland of the night elves , who remain in control of several holdings through the zone , including Astranaar , Maestra ' s Post , Silverwind Refuge , Silverwing Grove , and the Shrine of Aessina . This has changed since the Cataclysm , as the Horde has begun attacks on various Night Elf encampments and have succeeded in deforesting sections of the forest . The Horde has established a settlement in the eastern part of the woods — Splintertree Post — as well as a smaller camp on the western beach — Zoram ' gar Outpost - along with several Warsong camps situated from Kargathia Keep all through the southeast to the Mor ' shan Rampart in the far south . The zone is heavily populated with furbolg s , satyr , and wild creatures such as spider s , wolves , and bear s . The region is quite large , and running from the Zoram Strand to the Warsong Lumber Camp is quite an undertaking . Since the zone is contested there is often a lot of skirmishing going on throughout the woods , and attacks on the faction - based settlements are not uncommon . The zone is also a major travel hub for both Horde and Alliance , even at higher levels . History . Ashenvale is an ancient forest , and has been in the caring hands of the Night Elves for thousands of years . It was not until more recent years that things changed , with the coming of the Horde ' s lumber harvesting camps , as well as other much more insidious groups . The demon s of the Burning Legion have holdings in Fire Scar Shrine , Felfire Hill , Demon Fall Canyon and Demon Fall Ridge . The vile satyr inhabit ancient elven ruins at Xavian , Night Run , and Satyrnaar . The vicious worgen have taken over an ancient shrine near Felwood , cursed green dragonkin have slipped out from the Emerald Dream portal at Bough Shadow , and corruption taints the once - clear waters of Iris Lake and the Ruins of Stardust . The Horde have seized control of several holdings in the eastern parts of the forest , and beyond their base at Splintertree Post , they have harvested the trees for lumber at the Warsong Lumber Camp and the Warsong Labor Camp . The Horde clash with the Night Elves over control of Eastern Ashenvale , with the Warsong Outriders vowing to continue their lumber harvesting operations , and the Silverwing Sentinels vowing to drive the Outriders from their lands once and for all . Ashenvale is a vast primordial wilderness long given over to beasts and nature ’ s savage ways . The night elves who settled on Kalimdor after the Sundering hunted in Ashenvale ’ s wilds but never settled within its borders . When the Burning Legion invaded in the Third War , the night elves ceased even hunting in order to battle the demons . The lack of hunting has allowed many creatures to live and thrive within the vast woodland , creating danger for all who venture into the forest . Ashenvale forest runs in a great arc south of Mount Hyjal , with Stonetalon Mountains to the southwest and the Barrens directly south . The ruined lands of Azshara lie across a river to the east . Ashenvale is an old forest , long untouched by any mortal race . The weather is fairly mild , though rain is almost constant . The woods are so old and thickly grown that only trickles of precipitation get through the thick canopy . The forest has become ever wilder since left to its own devices after the start of the Third War . Any roads through are overgrown , some even impassable . In contrast , the game trails see increased traffic as beasts living in the shelter of the massive trees grow in number and boldness . Those traveling through Ashenvale will wisely keep their guard up at all times . In recent years , the demons and satyr have corrupted parts of Ashenvale , and other parts of it are cut down by the Horde to fuel their expansion efforts . The Forsaken , too , have begun experimenting on sleeping druids within the Dor ' Danil Barrow Den , unbeknownst to the Horde but not the Alliance . In addition to bears and great cats prowling the dense woodlands , hulking beak - faced wildkin forage throughout Ashenvale . Vicious harpies are known to make massive nests in the tops of the tallest trees . They hunt at dawn and dusk when the light filtering through the canopy throws the forest into a confusion of shifting shadows . Ancient s - sentient trees who act as wardens of the forest - roam Ashenvale as well . Ashenvale is under the protection of ancients and the night elf sentinels . Neither had established a community as such within the forest , though , preferring to leave the vast woodlands in its natural state . Ashenvale boasted no cities ; the old forest ’ s inhabitants are primarily beasts , and there are few humanoid settlements . It is devoid of any notable ruins . Travelers through Ashenvale should treat these forces with respect , especially if they hope to reach their destination . The ancients and night elf sentinels guard Ashenvale zealously with constant patrols . Any who threaten the forest - cutting down live trees , poaching beasts of the forest , and the like - are met with the ancients ’ powerful attacks and the sentinels ’ deadly arrows . The only unified night elf presence dwelling in Ashenvale is a reclusive group of rangers , the Farstriders . They use the terrain and train other inhabitants in their specialized skills . They hold a difference of opinion amongst themselves regarding strangers in Ashenvale . Some believe that their duty is to welcome and protect travelers , as long as they show no threat to the forest . Others see any strangers as unwelcome interlopers who must be “ escorted ” to the southern border . Still , whatever their opinion on Ashenvale , the Farstriders bow to the wishes of the ancients and the sentinels . There is little reason to try to take the forest , since it has no cities to invade and no treasures to plunder ( that anyone knows of ) , but the rangers and the ancients remain vigilant nonetheless . In recent years , the night elves have encountered immense difficulty in holding their lands within Ashenvale . The Horde has attacked on multiple fronts , launching assaults against Astranaar , Maestra ' s Post , and Raynewood Retreat . Though the night elves and their allies have held the Horde at bay in these areas , Silverwind Refuge was lost as the Horde killed everyone inside . As if the threat of the Horde was not enough , the Thistlefur furbolg s have also expanded their holdings , sweeping down from Thistlefur Village to take over the Ruins of Ordil ' Aran . From here they attack Maestra ' s Post independently of the Horde . All is not doom and gloom , however . The Alliance has pushed back against the Horde , assaulting Splintertree Post and taking half of the Warsong Lumber Camp . New holdings include Orendil ' s Retreat ( near the border to Darkshore ) , Stardust Spire ( near the Talondeep Pass ) , and Blackfathom Camp ( within sight of both Zoram ' gar Outpost and Blackfathom Deeps ) . Despite the resilience of the Alliance , the Horde have continued to expand within Ashenvale ' s borders . This comes at great cost to such inhabitants as the Greenpaw furbolg , whose village is partially overrun , with many of their number taken prisoner . Despite having seen heavy combat , the walls of Zoram ' gar Outpost have been fortified and the base expanded . In waging war against both Astrannar and Maestra ' s Post , the Horde have also established a base of operations between these two areas known as Hellscream ' s Watch . With their new goblin allies they are also constructing an enormous bomb at the Skunkworks near their new outpost at Silverwind Refuge . Geography . Ashenvale is a forest full of ancient trees , teeming with life . Though pockets of the forest have become tainted , overall the area is a place of deep magic and spiritual connection with nature . Several lakes are sheltered beneath the forest ' s boughs . A stretch of beach lines the west edge of the forest , known as the Zoram Strand , where hostile naga dwell . The forest is bordered by mountains to the south , and more forest to the north . The eastern border is the Southfury River . Ashenvale contains Blackfathom Deeps , an instanced dungeon located in the northwestern corner of the zone . In addition , the micro dungeon Bough Shadow , the site of one of the Great Tree s , can be found in this zone . The Alliance entrance to the battleground Warsong Gulch is located in the southern part of the forest . Travel hubs include Astranaar and Forest Song for Alliance , and Splintertree Post and Zoram ' gar Outpost for the Horde . The events of the Cataclysm scarred many areas of Ashenvale , chief among them Iris Lake and its surroundings . The lake has been destroyed , evaporated by streams of lava pouring from Thunder Peak nearby . The lava , however , has not been able to touch the sacred moonwell . The worgen have all but disappeared from the Howling Vale , as its main tunnel system has collapsed leading into it , with another short cave system opening at its base . The area now crawls with Crazed Ancient s . Another area has recently been stripped of its normal inhabitants as well : Lake Falathim . The murloc s have vanished , and now writhing Tendrils from Below haunt the lake . The area is also gloomy and dank , the site of battle between Keeper Heartwise and Harbinger Aphotic . Travel . Getting there . Alliance : From Grove of the Ancients in Darkshore , run south along the main road into Ashenvale . Continue along the road south and then east into the main Alliance stronghold of the zone , Astranaar . Horde : From the Crossroads in the Northern Barrens , travel north to the Mor ' shan Rampart and continue along the road into Ashenvale . When the road forks , head east to the Horde stronghold Splintertree Post . Notable characters . Ashenvale is home to several characters of note . At Maestra ' s Post , Delgren the Purifier seeks aid in the battle against the Shadow Council . In Astranaar , Raene Wolfrunner attempts to cleanse the taint that has affected the local furbolgs . At the Zoram ' gar Outpost , Je ' neu Sancrea sends bold adventurers into the dark Blackfathom Deeps in search of mystical items . At Forest Song , the draenei Vindicator Vedaar oversees the construction of a Draenei outpost . Quests . Many quests in Ashenvale for both Alliance and Horde require combat with the demons and satyrs of the zone . Other notable Horde quests include , in which players are asked to hunt down rare animals in the forest . Alliance quests include a chain to investigate the worgen of northern Ashenvale . Areas of interest . PvP . Alongside Hillsbrad Foothills and Stranglethorn Vale , Ashenvale was one of " the " places for PvP combat . An Alliance attack on the Crossroads in the Barrens or a Horde attack on Astraanar would result in a back and forth match as players battled across the landscape . Ashenvale was also a prime location for high level players to gank low level players as for many ( Orcs , Tauren , Trolls and Night Elves ) this was their first contested zone . Like Hillsbrad and Stranglethorn , Ashenvale has quieted down significantly with the advent of Battlegrounds and increased level caps , but Astranaar / Crossroad raids are not entirely atypical .