Arathi Highlands The Arathi Highlands are located in southeastern Lordaeron , east of Hillsbrad Foothills and south of the Hinterlands . It is a flat but craggy region that has traditionally been the home of the humans of Arathor , who gave the region its name . The main hubs of activity are now Refuge Pointe and Hammerfall , which houses bases for Alliance and Horde , respectively . The large city of Stromgarde lies in ruins to the southwest , and pockets of Syndicate resistance dot the land . The Boulderfist Orges also infest Arathor , and prove to be a constant threat to the Alliance , Horde , and Syndicate factions vying for supremacy . The Syndicate , Boulderfist ogres and the beleaguered human defenders of Stromgarde battle for supremacy in this gray , dismal realm . Prince Galen Trollbane leads the human defenders , and his mighty city of Stromgarde is a ruined battleground where the three factions wage guerrilla war . The Trollbane family ’ s holdings include several ancient human artifacts , and a group called the Caretakers protects and preserves the most important pieces . To the south is the Thandol Span , a massive dwarven construction that bridges the canal between Lordaeron and Khaz Modan . Due to the bridge being the only land connecting path from Lordaeron to Khaz Modan , the Arathi Highlands have become quite a hotspot for trade between the separated continents . History . The Arathi Highlands were once the cradle of Human civilization , as it marks the place where the Empire of Arathor was founded and where the first real contact between elves and humans was made , during the Troll Wars . From the great city of Strom , the Human Empire controlled nearly all of the eastern lands . After the Empire ' s collapse , the city of Strom was largely abandoned save for a contingent of the Imperial Guard . These Guardsmen founded a new martial kingdom known as Stromgarde , establishing their capital in the old city of Strom . Over time , they also built a village ( later known as Hammerfall ) further to the east . During the Second War , the forces of Stromgarde , now ruled by Thoras Trollbane , were an instrumental part of the Alliance ' s ground forces . Despite this , the Arathi Highlands , and Stromgarde itself was overrun by the Horde . After the Second War , Stromgarde was rebuilt , and the former village that was to become Hammerfall was converted into an internment camp to hold the hated Orc s . The nation managed to escape the Plague of Undeath but was soon afterward overrun by the Syndicate and Ogres . The remnant of the army was forced to flee the city and take refuge in a small canyon to the north , in what is now known as Refuge Pointe . Now , four years after the Third War , the area has become a battle zone between many different factions . The Alliance fights to aid the former nation of Stromgarde in recapturing its capital and reestablishing control over the region . The Horde , now in control of the internment camp that once held them prisoner ( naming it Hammerfall in honor of the fallen warchief Orgrim Doomhammer ) , is attempting to establish a forward base to protect its new allies against Alliance attack . The Syndicate is also in the area , trying to claim yet another territory for its jealous nobles . Finally , the Ogre s and Forest Troll s in the region are trying to drive out all others and establish a permanent settlement for themselves . In Cataclysm . Unlike its neighboring regions of Hillsbrad Foothills and the Wetlands , the Highlands were spared during the Cataclysm . Very little has changed . The Horde , flush from victory within Hillsbrad , have pushed slightly into the Highlands and have established a camp near the border . On the Alliance side , the dwarves have burrowed a deep pass through the mountains north into the Hinterlands , and now a clear path runs from behind Stromgarde Keep to Faldir ' s Cove . The dark iron dwarves have abandoned their camp near Thandol Span , retreating within the structure , and now the camp is home to a friendly Dark Iron Entrepreneur . Geography . The Arathi Highlands have a higher elevation than Khaz Modan ' s Wetlands , but otherwise the geography is similar . To the north is Thoradin ' s Wall , now collapsed and gaping wide . South is the Thandol Span , which bridges the gap between Lordaeron and Khaz Modan . Mountains to the east prevent easy access to the sea , and the Highlands ' western coast is bleak , windswept and cold . The Arathi Highlands are an area of grassy land in Southeastern Lordaeron . Notable features include the great circles of binding , which are protected by elementals and used to keep some unknown entity imprisoned . The region lies just north of the huge canyon running between the highlands and the Wetlands to the south , which can only be crossed by the Thandol Span . The area is home to the ruins of Stromgarde Keep , which has been overrun by ogre s and the Syndicate . The wildlife of the highlands includes giant spider s , carrion bird s , and raptor s . There are no instanced dungeons in the Arathi Highlands , though the ruins of Stromgarde Keep are one of the most well known micro dungeons in the game , and the The Tower of Arathor micro dungeon can also be found here . The entrance to the Arathi Basin battleground can also be found in this zone . Notable characters . The Arathi Highlands are home to several characters of note . At Refuge Pointe , seeks aid in the battle against the Boulderfist ogres . In Hammerfall , attempts to raise the spirits of those who still reel from the loss of Warchief Orgrim Doomhammer . And in Faldir ' s Cove , and his trusted crew seek an end to their prime threat — naga .