Stratholme ( original ) The city of Stratholme ( pronounced ˈstrathːhɔlm ) was the northernmost and second most populous city of the kingdom of Lordaeron , and is the city where the Order of the Silver Hand was founded . Today , Stratholme is the Scourge ' s capital in Lordaeron . Prince Arthas ravaged and set fire to Stratholme in the Third War to " purge it " and the undead moved in soon after . Stratholme burns to this day , and its districts have been split between the overzealous Scarlet Crusade led by Grand Crusader Dathrohan , and the Scourge forces led by the death knight Baron Rivendare . History . Stratholme was the second largest human city in Lordaeron , matched only by the capital . At the beginning of the Second War , Stratholme , specifically the Alonsus Chapel , was the location where the Archbishop Alonsus Faol founded the holy Order of the Knights of the Silver Hand , and indoctrinated its first five members , including Uther the Lightbringer and Saidan Dathrohan . The original Stratholme was a port town built on the northeast edge of Darrowmere Lake . Stratholme was the chief source of Alliance oil in the north . During the Second War , it was preparing to deliver massive amounts of Oil to the kingdoms in western Lordaeron . The Horde sabotaged its refineries and platform s to halt their shipment , and destroyed the city . With the destruction of Stratholme , the Alliance supply lines to Quel ' Thalas were severed . Between wars . Stratholme was apparently rebuilt in landlocked northern Lordaeron after the Second War . In its glory days , it housed nearly 25 , 000 people , and included many well known buildings , from the glorious keep to Fras Siabi ' s famous tobacco shop . The city was also where the one of the original paladins , Tirion Fordring , was tried for treason against the Alliance for defending the orc Eitrigg . The trial was conducted by Uther the Lightbringer himself and overseen by various leaders of the Alliance . Tirion was found guilty , stripped of his powers ( unsuccessfully ) , and was exiled from the Alliance lands . The following day the city came under attack by a small but well trained band of orc s under the command of the young warchief Thrall , determined to save Eitrigg . Admist the chaos Tirion and Eitrigg escaped into the countryside . Third War . Just before the Third War the Plague reached Stratholme in infected shipments of grain , most likely from Andorhal . The populace , unaware of the plague , baked and consumed the infected grain . The dreadlord Mal ' Ganis was silently overseeing the operation . Soon after , as the first undead started to rise , Prince Arthas and a contingent of soldiers arrived at Stratholme , but realized that the city had already been infected . Arthas thought that the only way of keeping the plagued ( but not yet turned ) citizens out of the hands of Mal ' Ganis was by killing them . Most of the soldiers , including Uther the Lightbringer and Jaina Proudmoore chose not to help Arthas , thinking his purge was madness . Arthas and some soldiers , however , went on , and the city ' s population was almost completely massacred by them , along with the undead . Arthas confronted Mal ' Ganis inside the city , but the dreadlord told him to seek him out in Northrend , fleeing from the site . The majority of the few survivors left with Jaina Proudmoore . Stratholme was later taken under the control of the Undead Scourge . After the end of the war , when Arthas was called back to Northrend , the lich overlord Kel ' Thuzad established Stratholme as his capital and positioned his floating fortress , the Necropolis Naxxramas , above the ruined city . Today . Stratholme is quite possibly the largest stronghold held by the Scourge in all of Lordaeron . Leading Scourge forces in the city below is a former noble turned death knight by the name of Baron Rivendare , who coordinates the efforts of the Lich King in the Plaguelands , where he constantly battles the force of the Argent Dawn . Kel ' Thuzad raised undead structures among the human ruins . Undead and necromancers control the city while gargoyles and frost wyrms patrol the sky . Noxious orange mist oozes from the buildings and poisons living creatures , transforming them into servants of the Scourge . Kel ' Thuzad ' s rule here is absolute , and from here he stretches his skeletal hands to control the surrounding plaguelands . Some consider Stratholme to be one of the most dangerous places in Azeroth outside of Northrend . Today the city houses a few hundred Scarlet Crusade warriors from the Crimson Legion who fight against the thousands of undead . Summary . On first entering Stratholme through the main entrance , the gate closes . Therefore , the only way out is to fight your way to the service entrance ( the key to which is held by Magistrate Barthilas ) , also known as the " back door " , or use a hearthstone or mage portal to get out . Teleporting out is also possible through the dungeon finder , if it was used to form your group . If someone is already at the service entrance , they can use the lever to open the gate and let others in . Another way to do this is duel , then aggro nearby hostiles ( or just aggro monsters from the start ) , slip through the door in ghost form , and resurrect on the other side . Stratholme is basically divided into two parts , though the boundaries are somewhat vague . Scarlet Side or " Live Side " , which goes from the main entrance into the Scarlet Crusade - controlled citadel , and Scourge Side or " Undead Side " , which can also be accessed from the main entrance , but more commonly through the Service Entrance ( which requires a key or Lockpicking 300 ) to the Scourge slaughterhouse . However , both " sides " are part of the same instance and players can complete both tracks . When using the dungeon finder the end boss , and thus the side of Stratholme your party needs to clear , is determined by the entrance you are ported to . The main gate will lead to the Live Side , while the service entrance will lead to the Undead Side . Players can complete the other side as well , but will not earn credit for completing the dungeon until they destroy the end boss of the appropriate side . The achievement requires completion of both sides , but this can be accomplished during separate runs . Engineers can blast their way through the Service Entrance using Seaforium ( or better ) , and blacksmiths a skeleton key ( or better ) . However , if you do , remember to take two charges with you , as there are two doors to open . To get to Baron Rivendare , the 3 Ash ' ari Crystals must be toppled . These Crystals are guarded by 3 of the bosses : Baroness Anastari , Nerub ' enkan and Maleki the Pallid . Kill them , and all the trash mobs inside the ziggurats they guard , and the Crystals will be toppled , allowing you entry to the Slaughterhouse where Baron Rivendare waits . Caverns of Time : Old Stratholme . Stratholme is the premise of the fourth wing of the Caverns of Time , set approximately six years from the present in World of Warcraft . This is actually the setting of a " " Human campaign mission . In this instance , players are part of Prince Arthas ' forces as they arrive in Stratholme , shortly before the purging of the city that eventually led to Arthas ' descent into madness . Culling of Stratholme is a level 80 , 5 - man wing , and the players will aid Arthas in destroying the town and killing its plagued denizens .