Deadwind Pass Deadwind Pass is a contested zone located in central Azeroth , joining the southeastern reaches of the Kingdom of Stormwind ( via Duskwood ) from the east to the Swamp of Sorrows ( and , eventually , the Dark Portal in the Blasted Lands ) from the west . It was , a score of years ago , considered a part of the Redridge Mountains . The Ivory Tower of Karazhan , once the dark wizard Medivh ’ s seat of power , stands in the center of this jagged region and leaks evil magic into the land . The trees are petrified and leafless , and a terrible wind keens through the canyon . Ogres , demons , undead and a few human gypsies roam the interior . Deadwind Pass connects Duskwood and the Swamp of Sorrows , and travelers are advised to move quickly — whispers tell that a new force has claimed the Ivory Tower , and that the ogres and demons are under its sway . History . Deadwind Pass is another region of the continent of Azeroth dominated by evil magic . It sits in the very middle of Azeroth and connects Duskwood and the Swamp of Sorrows . The Ivory Spire of Karazhan , once the seat of Medivh , still stands . It leaks corrupting magic , destroying the region ’ s flora . A foul wind constantly blows across the decimated canyon , giving it the name Deadwind . Although Deadwind does have a handful of inhabitants , few run across them . The fates of many people in Azeroth and the surrounding continents were forged here . Medivh made his home here and planned the Dark Portal ' s creation and opening . His evil is felt in this region more strongly than anywhere else , the land corrupted with the foul taint of his magic . Currently , the pass has little significance . People move through quickly , wishing to avoid ogres , undead and demons . It is rumored that the attacking monsters do not kill those they capture , but take them back to the tower . The tower ' s builders have been lost to time , but surely they were great and terrible people to have built such a foreboding and yet magnificent structure . Medivh was sought out and killed during the First War , and the tower has since been apparently abandoned , though unknown dangers yet lurk within . It is unclear who murdered all the villagers in the southern part of the chasm . It may have been Medivh or some force he summoned . Another theory states that it was the Black Riders , who have a hunger for death and seek to obtain the dangerous Scythe of Elune for their own purposes . This area might have been Borderlands from WC1 . Geography . This land is dead . The remaining trees are leafless and petrified , leeched of life by the tower ' s foul magic . The wind smells foul and dead , and the lightning storms are of concern to travelers carrying metal weapons . Undead and demons move over the land , refusing to allow it any chance of healing itself . In clear view of the road , scarecrow - like totems hang from the trees , a warning to remain on the path . The weather is in one of two states : threatening to storm or stormy . The main pass is through the middle of the region , and one must travel to the south to reach the cursed Ivory Tower of Karazhan . Few people wish to travel there , and few ever return . The few who have returned never reached the tower ; attacking ogres forced them back before they came within sight of it . Besides the ogres , travelers must watch for harpies in the canyons . Although Deadwind does have a handful of inhabitants , few are likely to run across them if they are just passing through . The Deadwind ogres comprise most of the population . The ogres are dedicated to cleansing the region of all interlopers , lead by a " master " . These ogres dress in foul rags and carry crude , rough weapons . They are the biggest , most obvious threat to travelers and why most caravans and groups go heavily guarded . The humans of the region are travelers , carrying their homes on their backs and trying to stay one step ahead of the ogres , demons and undead that haunt them . They do not recognize the Alliance or even ask its aid . They simply move from place to place , fighting for their lives , stolidly proclaiming Deadwind Pass as their home . This region is barren and devoid of any useful resources - herbs do not grow here , and there are no precious metals to be found . The only wildlife to speak of are carrion birds . The raid dungeon Karazhan can be found in this zone . Other than that , there are no dungeons of any kind and no battlegrounds here . In addition , there are no travel hubs - players will have to rely on the nearby towns of Darkshire ( Alliance ) and Stonard ( Horde ) to access this zone . In the northern part of the region is an abandoned camp that is labeled " Ariden ' s Camp " . Currently , there are no NPCs in World of Warcraft named " Ariden " , and this name is not listed in any records of lore . If merely passing through , the only mobs travelers usually come across are vulture s and wisp - like sprites , all of which are aggressive and will attack on sight . As one goes further south , though , one will come across a tribe of Deadwind Ogre s living around the bend in the road leading to Karazhan . They live both along the roadside and within the nearby caves . In addition to the ogres and vultures , many undead aggressive spirit s haunt the remains of the town at the base of Karazhan , far south down the road . Their presence also extends deep underground . There are open cellar entrances in two of the ruined houses which will lead to catacombs and caverns filled with these ghosts . Of course , there is the tower of Karazhan itself , which dominates the southern area of the pass . Karazhan is a level 70 10 - man instance in " " . Deadwind Pass is also known to be the origin point of a mysterious regime known as the Dark Riders , who have been sighted in Duskwood when they slaughtered a family of farmers in search of the Scythe of Elune . As of the 2 . 0 patch the undead surrounding the tower are level 67 - 70 . Players of much lower level should be careful to avoid running in , as the ghosts have a large aggro radius and would be very hard , if not impossible , to kill . Thankfully , they should not prove much of a threat for the level 70 adventurers who come here to brave the dangers of Karazhan . The Redridge Range stretches from the zone of the Redridge Mountains to the zone of Deadwind Pass . Maps and subregions . Topographic map of Deadwind Pass Notable Characters . Archmage Alturus , Archmage Leryda , and Apprentice Darius are the only friendly characters that have dared to brave the pass . They have come on behalf of Dalaran to investigate the disturbances coming from Karazhan and are enlisting adventurers to delve deep into the tower ' s mysteries . In Cataclysm . It is unknown what changes the Cataclysm has wrought upon Deadwind Pass . For a time during beta , the Eastern Kingdoms world map did not show a border between Duskwood and Deadwind Pass . This was corrected in build 12942 . There are currently a group of high - level spiders in the trees above the road on the entrance from Duskwood which drop behind travelers and attack .