Nethergarde Keep Nethergarde Keep , a Dalaran fortress of dour mages and paladins , keeps watch over the Dark Portal , and the demons and ogres that would abuse its power . The keep is a heavily defended Alliance town located in the Blasted Lands , home to a detachment of 300 . Though technically it is a castle like Northwatch Hold in the Barrens , none of the Guards are PvP - enabled except the Gryphon Master and a few questgivers . The castle features two barracks , a stable , a mage tower and a blacksmith . History . Nethergarde Keep was built after the Second War — following the destruction of the first Dark Portal — at the behest of Archmage Khadgar to ensure that there would be no further invasions from Draenor . It stands on a high bluff along the only road into the Blasted Lands , a road often travelled by both the Horde and the Alliance as they prepare to do battle with the demonic forces in the region . The construction of Nethergarde was funded by the various kingdoms of the Alliance of Lordaeron ( though some more willingly than others ) , and constructed by the Stonemasons under the supervison of Edwin VanCleef . The archmages of the Kirin Tor , along with the help of King Terenas , Thoras Trollbane and the young king of Stormwind Varian Wrynn , convinced the members of the Alliance that the high costs involved with constructing the fortress was well worth it considering the dangers involved with a possible " second invasion " . Khadgar was master of Nethergarde until the reconstruction of the Dark Portal by Ner ' zhul , and his clans , on Draenor . When the orcs began attacking Azeroth once more , Khadgar and his friends Turalyon , Danath Trollbane , Alleria Windrunner , and Kurdran Wildhammer rallied their troops and led the Alliance Expedition through the Dark Portal in order to destroy the Horde and seal off the Portal once and for all . When Ner ' zhul opened more portals , which began to tear Draenor apart , the five leaders remained behind to seal it from Draenor in order that the backlash would not affect their beloved world of Azeroth . For twenty years thereafter , the Dark Portal was silent . After the Portal was sealed , the mages of Dalaran kept Nethergarde in operation both for the Kirin Tor and the Alliance . They focused their efforts on studying the effects that the Portal ' s energy had on what had become known as the Blasted Lands - the mutations to the wildlife and the tainting of the soil . When Dalaran was destroyed by Archimonde during the invasion of the Burning Legion , Nethergarde ' s continued survival depended on support from the nearby Kingdom of Stormwind , and by warriors of the Alliance who travelled into the Blasted Lands . Then Lord Kazzak , the demon commander in Azeroth , found an artifact to reopen the Dark Portal , and join the Legion ' s ranks in Outland . Now , with the way to Outland open again , Nethergarde is now the major hub of activity between Stormwind and the Dark Portal . Wrath of the Lich King . In the years following the War against the Lich King , the southern wall of the keep was opened . Cataclysm . Following the terrible shattering , which destroyed the eastern mountain range in the Blasted Lands , this allowed direct access to the Shattershore . To the west , the Horde has retaken the fortress of Dreadmaul Hold , putting the Alliance forces of Nethergarde Keep into direct conflict over territory and resources . The horde is now actively battling alliance outside the western entrance . Warlords of Draenor . During the War against the Iron Horde , Nethergarde Keep was destroyed when the Iron Horde began its attempted invasion on Azeroth through the Dark Portal . The Alliance inside the keep was not prepared for this , and couldn ' t stand against the Iron Horde ' s advanced weaponry . After the Iron Horde destroyed Nethergarde Keep , the Horde from Dreadmaul Hold took the opportunity and attacked the enemy head on . They managed to defeat the enemy , but after reinforcements arrived , Dreadmaul Hold was conquered and taken by the Iron Horde .