Grim Batol Grim Batol is a mountain fortress located in the Twilight Highlands . It has great walls and spires that reach toward a steel - gray sky , but the stronghold ’ s bulk is underground . Founded by Wildhammer dwarves and later captured by orcs , a flight of red dragons now command Grim Batol . The dragons guard a secret power within the fortress and let no one near . The entrance is at , where you follow a path curving south to get to it at . Do not try to enter from southeast Wetlands near its position on the map ; you must take the north entrance . History . War of the Three Hammers . After losing in a three way civil war between themselves , the Bronzebeard s , and Dark Iron s , Khardros of the Wildhammer clan led his people north through the barrier gates of Dun Algaz . It was here that they founded their own kingdom within the mountain of Grim Batol . After years of bitterness , Thaurissan , leader of the Dark Iron clan , launched a double - sided attack from his city in the Redridge Mountains against both Ironforge and Grim Batol in hopes of taking all of Khaz Modan . Thaurissan led his forces against Ironforge while his sorceress wife , Modgud , attacked Grim Batol . The Bronzebeards were able to push back the Dark Iron assault which had been led by Thaurissan at Ironforge . As Thaurissan withdrew to Redridge , Modgud ' s forces began to break through the gates of Grim Batol . Modgud then used her sorceress powers to call for the shadows from the earth to attack the Wildhammers within their own fortress . The Wildhammers viciously fought back against the shadows and the Dark Iron forces . Finally , Khardros was able to push through the invading onslaught and slay Modgud . Leaderless , the remaining Dark Irons began a hasty retreat to Redridge only to be intercepted by the Bronzebeard army which had come from Ironforge to assist Grim Batol . The remaining Dark Iron forces were crushed between the Wildhammer and Bronzebeard armies . Following the total defeat of Thaurissan , the Wildhammers returned to their home in Grim Batol . What they had found was that the death of Modgud had left an evil taint in their fortress . The Wildhammers found Grim Batol uninhabitable and founded a new home in Aerie Peak . Aftermath of the Second War . During the Second War , Grim Batol was the center of all refining operations for the Horde ' s navy . It was also the main base of the Horde ' s dragon breeding program , where Alexstrasza the Red was kept captive and forced to produce red dragon s to be used as mounts for orc dragonriders . The Horde used the Demon Soul and Dark Iron chains to control the red brood . Grim Batol remained in orc hands long after the collapse of the Horde and the destruction of the Dark Portal , largely due to the power of their dragons . Eventually , thanks to the efforts of a band of unlikely heroes led by the mage Rhonin , Alexstrasza was freed . The dragon queen immediately set about incinerating every orc she could find , utterly destroying the power of the Dragonmaw clan ( in Azeroth ) and killing the orc warrior ( former warlock / former shaman ) Nekros Skullcrusher . World of Warcraft timeframe . Members of the red dragonflight were left behind to keep watch over Grim Batol , and for years they successfully guarded its desolate halls from further intrusion . The red wyrm Garshilan leads the fortress ' defenses , aided by the young Acridistrasz and the Dragonspawn Baleflame . The ruins of the orc caravan that tried to escape the fortress can still be seen strewn around the entrance . In the novel " Night of the Dragon " , it is revealed that Deathwing , the insane Black Aspect and ancient enemy of Alexstrasza , resides deep inside Grim Batol . World of Warcraft : Cataclysm . The arrival of the Twilight ' s Hammer , a sinister cult who worshipped Azeroth ' s malefic Old Gods , seduced by Deathwing ' s thirst for absolute domination over Azeroth , has claimed the Twilight Highlands as its base of operations . The black dragonflight has driven off the agents of the red dragonflight who guarded Grim Batol so that it may be used as a fortress for training Deathwing ' s minions . The halls of Grim Batol run so deep into the highlands that it is unknown to what twisted end the Twilight ' s Hammer is using this doomed dwarven marvel . Called to action by the red dragonflight in the Twilight Highlands , adventurers will be charged with putting a decisive end to the foul machinations developing within . The army within is lead by General Umbriss . In World of Warcraft . Up until , Grim Batol was a subzone in the southeastern Wetlands . The fortress itself was inaccessible , consisting solely of a mountain road leading to a massive , closed door . The surrounding area was populated by various elite level 60 + red dragonkin and , a mighty red drake . In Cataclysm . Grim Batol is an instance in the " " expansion . Now part of the new the Twilight Highlands zone , it contains a 5 - man dungeon named Grim Batol .