Elwynn Forest Elwynn Forest , aka the Forest of Elwynn or simply Elwynn , is a vast woodland of stately hardwoods nestled just below the foothills of the Burning Steppes to the north . To the west are the dry prairie fields of Westfall . The idyllic Redridge Mountains lie to the east , and to the south , across the Jerod ' s Landing is where Duskwood is located . It is the heartland of the human Kingdom of Stormwind and consequently is the starting point of all human characters . Elwynn is a gorgeous span of fertile land and thick forests . The weather is sunny and cheerful during the day and silent and peaceful at night . Unlike Duskwood , it is close enough to Stormwind to enjoy considerable Alliance guardianship . Home to many farmers , loggers , and miners , Elwynn Forest is a tranquil region with several friendly places to stop . Little troubles this region ; kobolds infiltrate some mines such as the Fargodeep Mine and Jasperlode Mine , and murlocs have moved inland to reside in some lakes and rivers such as Crystal Lake and Stone Cairn Lake , but overall it is safe . One should stick to the roads though , as the forest is home to many fearsome and territorial creatures such as bears and wolves . Those who can defend themselves are not in any danger , but others may not be so lucky . Elwynn enjoys consistently good weather , warm and humid with very few stormy days . Gentle rain falls just enough to make everything grow full and lush . This woodland is pleasant and tranquil . Loggers and fishers fuel Stormwind ’ s economy , and a diligent militia keeps it safe from the kobolds and murlocs that occasionally surface . The Defias Brotherhood , a group of robbers and bandits wearing red masks , were once a growing menace in the region . It is under guardianship of the kingdom of Stormwind , but has its own democratic government . Marshal Dughan is the elected ruler . Though much of the forest was burned down during the First War trees and lush glades have grown back . Stormwind City lies northwest of the forest and is heavily patrolled by the Stormwind guards . The humans have lived in Elwynn for centuries , but members of all Alliance races can be frequently seen traveling and residing in Elwynn due to its proximity to the capital , Stormwind . Most residents of Elwynn are involved in one of its major industries : logging , farming , fishing or mining . The people are hardy and hard - working . The region organizes its festivals and celebrations around the planting calendar , its two biggest parties being the planting and harvesting festivals . Elwynn is also visited periodically by the famous , traveling Darkmoon Faire monthly . True criminals in the area are usually sent to Stormwind for trial and punishment in the Stockade which is also a dungeon , as most people care more for their jobs than housing criminals . Goldshire has a small holding area for drunks and pickpockets , but few stay in the clink for very long . Elwynn ’ s towns will welcome most any travelers , especially those who want to shop or trade to help the local economies . They are especially kind to those willing to lend a hand in a tough spot . History . Little is known of Elwynn ' s history before Stormwind was founded centuries ago by the Arathi bloodline of Stromgarde in Lordaeron . Ever since humans first settled in the forest , it has thrived under their stewardship . Elwynn Forest was captured by the Horde during their bloody campaign to Stormwind in the First War . The resources culled from the bountiful woods helped fuel the Horde ' s war machine . Much of the forests were razed as the orcs marched across Elwynn . The town of Goldshire and the Abbey at Northshire were both tragically destroyed . When Stormwind fell to the orcs and Anduin Lothar led the humans to Lordaeron , the Stormreaver and Twilight ' s Hammer clans assumed domains in Elwynn Forest . When the humans of Stormwind finally retook their city at the end of the Second War , they regained Elwynn as well . It cost the kingdom of Stormwind a significant amount of gold and resources to rebuild their broken homeland . As a result , the kingdom ' s economy has flagged since it was rebuilt . Many of the middle and lower classes became fed up with high taxes and unpaid labor in service of the kingdom . Many of these dissidents defected to form the Defias Brotherhood ( led by the Stonemasons Guild , the architects who reconstructed Stormwind and weren ' t paid anything ) . The Brotherhood reaches into Elwynn Forest from time to time , preying on lone travelers , although their main center of operations lies somewhere in Westfall . Some say they have a case against Stormwind , as they weren ’ t paid for their work rebuilding the city ; others say they are whiners who charged too much in the first place . Others ( such as Brann Bronzebeard ) did their work and were paid , and don ’ t understand the problems . Yet , against all the odds , Elwynn has returned to much of its former majesty and glory . Northshire Abbey was rebuilt and has become a recruiting center of sorts for the Stormwind army . Goldshire and its famous Lion ' s Pride Inn have returned to their former glory as a bustling hub of activity . Today , the only reminders of the Horde ' s occupation are a few scattered orcish catapults , broken and rotting . Meanwhile , the humans of Stormwind rejoice as Elwynn once again becomes the pride of the Kingdom of Stormwind . In Cataclysm . Though the majority of Elwynn remained untouched during the devastating Cataclysm , the Northshire Vineyards were not as lucky . The Defias that once roamed here harassing the settlers have all been killed , and the area burns as Blackrock orcs harry the countryside . The Blackrock Orc leader , Kurtok the Slayer replaces Garrock Padfoot who was one of the leaders of the Defias . The Defias Brotherhood had camps throughout Elwynn Forest , but with the ascendance of and the Westfall Brigade having largely crushed the Defias in Westfall , not even a few scattered ruffians remain . , , and still harass the locals , but no longer as part of an organized gang . There are rumors the Defias had a relationship with the kobolds in Elwynn Forest , enlisting them to collect gold from the mines . They may have been associated with the Riverpaw Gnolls along the border of Westfall . The Westbrook Garrison still sends out patrols to search for thieves entering Elwynn Forest from Westfall . Geography . Elwynn lies below the southern foothills of Blackrock Mountain . The forest is a labyrinthine mixture of rushing rivers , various lakes , gold mines , and forests of magnificent trees and lush glades . Its rich farmland is a result of frequent rains . Recently several of the lakes have been found to be inhabited by hostile murlocs . Stormwind City itself sits proudly in the northwestern hills of the region , its gates opening down onto the Forest . East of Stormwind and behind a thick wall lies the peaceful Northshire Valley and its Abbey . Northshire was the pride of Stormwind ' s vineyards until recently , when Defias bandits drove off the farmers and occupied the farm and fields . In addition , the Echo Ridge Mine north of the abbey has been infested by kobolds . Bears , wolves , spiders and boars constitute the bulk of the region ' s large wildlife . The creatures are hostile everywhere except for Northshire . The roads leading from Stormwind and Northshire converge to the southeast just north of Goldshire . Goldshire is Elwynn ' s largest settlement besides Stormwind itself . Second to Goldshire is the Eastvale Logging Camp in the east near the border with Redridge Mountains . Eastvale is the center of Elwynn ' s lumber industry . On the road from Goldshire to Eastvale is the Tower of Azora where mages conduct arcane experiments in seclusion . On the road to Westfall from Goldshire is the imposing Westbrook Garrison . This barracks and surrounding grounds house a number of the Stormwind Guard , and protects Elwynn ' s western border . Dotted throughout the forest are small farmsteads growing crops such as wheat , pumpkins , melons and grapes . Kobolds infested the Jasperlode Mine and Fargodeep Mine . Gnolls have erected camps in the Forest ' s Edge region and the northern rim of Stone Cairn Lake . It is rumored that both the kobolds and gnolls were somehow associated with the Defias Brotherhood . Murloc s have taken up residence in and around Stone Cairn Lake and Crystal Lake . The Defias once had holdings at Mirror Lake Orchard , the Brackwell Pumpkin Patch , Jerod ' s Landing and Stone Cairn Lake . Resources . " Note : Though there are no pools to fish from , open water requires a minimum skill level of 25 to fish successfully from . " Notable characters . Elwynn Forest is home to several humans of high status . From Northshire Abbey Marshal McBride recruits promising young humans into the Army . In Goldshire , Marshal Dughan leads the effort to reclaim Elwynn from the kobolds and other vile threats , and from his post near Eastvale Logging Camp , Guard Thomas seeks to eradicate the foothold the murlocs have established in the forest . Deputy Rainer is currently the leader of the Westbrook Garrison and protects the border from the Riverpaw Gnolls . Quests . Elwynn Forest is the starting zone for human s . The quest range here runs from level 1 to 12 with the earliest starting quests concentrated in Northshire Valley . In southern Elwynn player witness the rivalry between the Stonefields , Maclures , and Brackwells and do quests on both sides ( the Brackwell Pumpkin Patch is currently overrun by Defias ) . The quests also include fighting the murlocs near Crystal Lake and Stone Cairn Lake and the kobolds in the two big mines - the Fargodeep and Jasperlode . But the strongest recurring threat are the Defias Brotherhood ( strangely , most of them are situated in Eastern Elwynn , having their base somewhere in Westfall ) . Two quest chains run adventurers back and forth between the rival farms of the Maclure and Stonefield families . Although not a quest chain , sets the Defias threat early . Meanwhile , the drop quest could help link the gnoll s near Ridgepoint Tower to the Defias . Northshire Valley is the starting subzone with the level 1 - 5 quests . Goldshire is the central village for those following most zone quests and suggested home inn for levels 6 - 10 . Stormwind City is the capital , with all level quests geared to quests that draw adventurers to other zones . Areas of interest . Dungeons . " Note : The Stockade is in Stormwind City . "