Ironforge Ironforge is the capital city of the dwarves , a member of the Alliance . It is the ancestral home of the Bronzebeard dwarves . King rules his kingdom of Khaz Modan from his throne room within the city , and the High Tinker , leader of the gnomes , has temporarily had to settle down in Tinker Town after the recent fall of the gnome city Gnomeregan . The city is perhaps the most intricate of the Alliance cities , boasting many small passageways , shops built into the rock walls , great halls and cavernous rooms . The feel of the city is a bustling , rowdy , and somewhat industrial one , however , it is predominantly safe - feeling and cozy ; fires roar in the hearths of the inns and shops , the sounds of smithing go on as fires roar in the blacksmithing forges , and much dwarven laughing and frivolity is to be heard . Also , unlike Stormwind and Darnassus , the city is actually a massive cavern carved into the earth by the dwarves ; the ceiling and floor are both hard stone . This gives the place a sanctuary - like feel . Mainly because of the Deeprun Tram , linking Ironforge and Stormwind City , and the district of Tinker Town , Ironforge is one of the most racially diverse cities in the Alliance world . Dwarves predominate , of course , but you will find plenty of gnomes even outside of Tinker Town , and probably as many humans . This is true for player characters as well as non - player characters , since Ironforge is in the heart of the Alliance world . You will find almost no night elves , however , as they have long since set themselves apart from the other races . The collective frivolity of the place , the bustling and gruff manner of the dwarves , and the fantastic architecture , makes Ironforge a wonder just to visit — whether or not you have business to attend to there . Ironforge also holds the main Alliance Brewfest . History . Ironforge is the ancient home of the dwarves . It was once ruled by the High King , who left no heir upon his death , eventually leading to the War of the Three Hammers . Before the war , when the Dark Iron clan was banished from the city , Ironforge was the commercial and social center of all the dwarven clans . It is now home only to the Bronzebeard Clan . Many dwarven strongholds fell during the Second War between the Horde and the Alliance of Lordaeron , but the mighty city of Ironforge , nestled in the wintry peaks of Dun Morogh and protected by its great gates , was never breached by the invading Horde . Relatively recently , Ironforge also became home to the Gnomeregan refugees . After the Third War , the gnomish city of Gnomeregan became overrun by trogg s . Since then a number of gnomes have settled in Ironforge , even converting an area of that city to their liking now known as Tinker Town . The two races are so friendly that the refugees are sometimes called the Ironforge gnomes . Ironforge is one of most populated cities in the world , coming after the human city of Stormwind , and housing 20 , 000 people . A marvel to the dwarves ' skill at shaping rock and stone , Ironforge was constructed in the very heart of the mountains , an expansive underground city home to explorers , miners , and warriors . Massive doors of rock protect the city in times of war , and lava from the mountain itself is redirected and distributed for heat , energy and smithing purposes . While the Alliance has been weakened by recent events , the dwarves of Ironforge , led by King Magni Bronzebeard , are forging a new future for the world . In Cataclysm . In Cataclysm , King Magni Bronzebeard is no longer found at the High Seat . Instead Ironforge seems to be ruled by a council of representatives : Muradin Bronzebeard , Falstad Wildhammer , and Moira Thaurissan ( with her infant son Fenran by her side ) . In an earlier beta build , Kurdran Wildhammer was present instead of Falstad . This was brought up by the notorious Red Shirt Guy at BlizzCon 2010 which lead to Falstad reclaiming his seat . Wards . Ironforge is structurally a giant circle of sections , it also contains several " depth " levels ( at least eight , though they are not accessible in game ) . The accessible portions of Ironforge appear to be located on the 5th level , the " fifth depth " of the city . Notable characters . King rules Ironforge from the High Seat at the heart of the city , with the support of his two highest - ranking advisers , and . , the leader of the gnomish exiles from Gnomeregan , has taken up seat in Tinkertown , from where he sends adventurers on missions to try to reclaim his beloved city . , the leader of the Explorers ' League , leads the dwarves ' effort to uncover the mysteries of their past from the Hall of Explorers . Quests . See .