Old Ironforge

Old Ironforge, also known as the Assembly of Thanes,World of Warcraft: Game Manual, pg. 172Ultimate Visual Guide, pg. 82 is a chamber deep below the High Seat of the dwarven capital of Ironforge. In an effort to aid the troubled elementals that foreshadowed the Cataclysm and the return of Deathwing, King Magni Bronzebeard opened a part of the old city and attempted a titan ritual to commune with the earth but was turned into diamond. He stood rooted on what has become known as Magni's Dais.World of Warcraft: Exploring Azeroth: The Eastern Kingdoms, pg. 61 A long and winding path leads over the lava to the two doors of Aegrim's Study.
While Old Ironforge has always been present in-game, its entrance was originally closed off until Cataclysm.
==History==
===The Shattering===
After Magni received earthen stone tablets from Brann, he ordered the sealed gates of Old Ironforge to be opened for a ritual. The key took two dwarves to lift, and it took a ladder for them to reach the lock. After venturing through the door, a linear path led Anduin Wrynn, Muninn Magellas, Advisor Belgrum, High Priest Rohan and Reyna Stonebranch to a large cavern. A surprisingly new-looking carpeted path led upwards to a broad platform capable of holding a large group, and an unadorned stone path led downwards. The ceiling is made of diamond. With an incantation scroll and a potion, Magni performed the ritual to become one with the earth. While listening to the incantation, Anduin called this place the "heart of the earth". The ritual seemingly worked, but turned him into a solid diamond statue.The Shattering: Prelude to Cataclysm, pg. 139 - 144
===Cataclysm===
In the opened Old Ironforge could be found a petrified Magni, Advisor Belgrum, Honor Guard Dunstad, some Ironforge guards and three large tomes being present. Orphaned children wanted to see the statue during the Children's Week. Belgrum and Dunstad would give explanations to Alliance adventurers and the children about what had happened to Magni.
Opened Old IF door.jpg|The door to Old Ironforge in the High Seat opened.
Old Ironforge view from the entrance.jpg|The view looking inside Old Ironforge showing the diamond ceiling.
North Old IF tome.jpg|Northern large tome.
Southeast Old IF tome.jpg|Southeastern large tome.
Northwest Old IF tome.jpg|Northwest smaller tome.
===Legion===
Before the Burning Legion's third invasion started, Moira paid a visit to her crystallized father in Old Ironforge. All these years, Magni had watched over his daughter, but at this moment, Magni finally awakened. News spread through the city that the king under the mountain had returned, and Muradin and Falstad arrived to witness it. It was Azeroth herself who had released Magni, as she had foreseen the Legion's return. He asked for the dwarves to prepare themselves, and set out to warn the rest of the Alliance of the demons' imminent return.Magni: Fault Lines
As a result, Dunstad moved to the throne room, but Belgrum remained to explain the absence of Magni to visitors.
Since Magni broke free from his crystalline chamber, glittering shards from his liberation now litter the floor and stairs.
===Before the Storm===
When King Anduin Wrynn visited Ironforge, Moira Thaurissan and her son Dagran took him to the chamber. Dagran found the scroll Belgrum read during the ritual and began reading it as well. As the two monarchs conversed, a guard found them and told them that Magni arrived to the city.Before the Storm, chapter 7
===Battle for Azeroth===
The long and winding path now leads to the study of Aegrim Bronzebeard.Watch Yer Back An adventurer was tasked with retrieving some of the crystal bits left behind by Magni when he awakened, to help reforge Aegrim's armor.
==In the RPG==
The Hall of Thanes is a massive, natural cavern complex located in Ironforge's lowest depths. The area is a true marvel of organic stone formation: no dwarf has touched this cavern with pick or chisel. Ironforge's kings are buried in the Hall of Thanes, and the old throne is here as well. Also within this cavernous area is the ancient, weathered Iron Forge — perhaps the greatest titan artifact ever unearthed. The dwarves do not use this holy anvil, but keep it near their honored dead and the seat of their power. Brann Bronzebeard believes that as dwarves uncover more truths about their ancestry, they will find greater uses for the Iron Forge. He believes the titans must have given it to them for a reason.Lands of Conflict, pg. 76 - 77
==Notes==
*According Mathias Shaw, the area is full of guards, and he advises against any attempt at theft under penalty of losing his hand.
*Back in vanilla, enterprising players constantly found various ways of bypassing the closed off entrance.
*During one of the patch 3.1.0 PTR builds, an operable door from the throne room was implemented and the legitimate path into Old Ironforge was clearly visible, though blocked by an invisible wall. The door was inoperable again by the time the patch went live.
*The arches that were added when the area was opened clip with the crystals on the ceiling.
*During the beta, Old Ironforge was instead included in the High Seat subzone.
==Speculation==
Considering that the area is also known as the Assembly of Thanes, the mountain kings of old might have met here before the foundation of the kingdom of Ironforge. Alternatively, it might also be that old kings are buried here as was the case in the Warcraft RPG.
==Patch changes==
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==References==
Category:Lore
Category:Dwarf territories
Category:Lands of Conflict
es:Antigua Forjaz