Stromgarde (Kingdom)

## The Kingdom of Stromgarde

For the Canon Wiki page on Stromgarde visit; https://wowpedia.fandom.com/wiki/Stromgarde\_(kingdom)

This page will focus on Chronicles specific lore for Stormgarde.

Stromgarde is one of 7 human nations. It was a primary ally of the Kingdom of Lordaeron, member state to the Alliance, and boasted a strong millitary culture. Stromgarde is situated in the Arathi Highlands, particularly at their capital of *Strom*, now referred to as *Stromgarde, Stromgarde City, or Stormgarde Keep.*

## History

### Foundation

Stromgarde was founded following the seperation of the Kingdom of Arathor into 7 states, taking Arathor's seat of power, Strom, as its homeland. The people of Stromgarde valued the rich history and culture of Arathor, and so, were not inclined to expand out into the Eastern Kingdoms like the 6 other nations. They prided themselves on preserving the Arathor homeland of Arathi, the Arathorian city of Strom, and preserving much of Arathor's origional culture.

The Trollbane line of Kings would come to rule this new nation.

### The War of Four

Stromgarde participated in a great human war called *The War of Four*, which was a war that was to decide who would own the lushous forests of Hillsbrad Foothills. Stromgarde was not incredibly interested in the land, but intervened to ensure their hated neighbors in *Alterac* did not succeed in taking the region. Stromgarde was overall satisfied with Lordaeron's victory over the foothills, and as their neighbor, Stromgarde developed a beneficial trading partnership with the Lordaeronic people of Hillsbrad.

### The Second War

Stromgarde would participate in the Second War under the Alliance of Lordaeron, contributing much of their troops and resources to the war effort. Stromgarde had the most to lose, and the invasion of the Orcs threatened Stromgarde the most. During the war, Stromgarde soldiers lead by King Thoras Trollbane successfully blocked mountain passes through the Alterac Mountains, which resulted in an Alliance victory at the Siege of Capital City, effectively turning the tide of the war.

### Annexation of Alterac

Following the War's end, Stromgarde insisted a portion of Alterac's territory (rich in valueable metals and mines) be granted to Stromgarde as payment for damages caused by Alterac. The income from mining the valueable Alterac Valley would have allowed Stromgarde to rebuild following the war. This proposal however was refused by King Terenas, who instead sent in Lordaeron's 2nd Batallion to annex the Kingdom until a new Alteraci heir could ascend to the throne of Alterac and restore order. Outraged, Stromgarde left the Alliance of Lordaeron, but still maintained trade relations, and sent mercenaries to Alterac to assist with the annexation.

### The Third War - Collapse of Stromgarde

Stromgarde, while aware of the Plague of Undeath, did not feel inclined to act, the problem was simply too far away to be of concern to Stromgarde. Their attention at the time, more focused on incursions into the Arathi Highlands by the Boulderfist Ogres. The Ogres had managed to survive the Second War, and over the years had built up their strength high in the Arathi mountains. They also were invested in the Alterac Mountains. With the Syndicate and Lordaeron forces fighting one another, Thoras saw the oppertunity to secretly take over several mines, exporting the metals to Stromgarde which he would later sell back to Lordaeron. The exploitation of the mines drew the Syndicate's attention to Stromgarde.

Thoras would later diminish the strength of his forces further by sending the Stromgarde Brigade to assist Lady Jaina Proudmoore in her expedition west, feeling guilty for Stromgarde's lack of aid during Lordaeron's downfall to the Scourge.

With Lordaeron's 2nd Batallion defeated and withdrawn from Alterac, the Syndicate took the oppertunity to turn to Stromgarde and began a vicious campaign of attacks on Stromgarde mines in the mountains. Stromgarde redirected their forces which had been fighting the Boulderfist, to the mountains to push back the Syndicate, but this ended up being a fatal mistake.

The Syndicate leader, Lord Falconcrest, made an alliance with the Boulderfist, with Syndicate spies in Stromgarde providing the Boulderfist with intelligence that would allow them to bypass Stromgarde patrols and defences. The Boulderfist staged their largest attack yet, at the same time that the Syndicate would assassinate King Thoras Trollbane. Demoralised by the loss of their leader, and crippled by the redirection of essential troops, Stromgarde City would be sieged, and lost. The civillians were escorted to Dalaran or Menethil Harbor, with the surviving Military troops reorganising at Refuge Point.

As part of an agreement with the Boulderfist, Lord Falconcrest and his Syndicate followers took control of portions of Stromgarde City, claiming the humans ancestrial seat of power.

### Survival - Vanilla WoW

The Surviving people of Stromgarde would begin a vicious campaign to retake their former capital. Prince Galen Trollbane successfully lead assaults that lead to the recapture of some parts of the city, including the chapel and royal crypts. Galen however was later killed by Horde adventurers, seeking the family blade *Trol'kalar.*

The death of Galen meant that Galen's son Richard, only 6 years old, would one day be the next king.

## Culture and Millitary

The people of Stromgarde are a warrior people, with deep values of Honor and loyalty, which they value above all else. Their millitary consists of armored infantry, armored cavalry, siege units, Knights, archers and Rangers.

Stromgarde Rangers are expert archers, swordsmen and axe-throwers who specialise in troll hunting. They are sometimes referred to as Troll Hunters.

### Council of Swords

The Council of Swords is comparible to Lordaeron's chamber of Ambassadors or Stormwind's House of Nobles. It is a small group of individuals, often members of Stormgarde in high millitary and civillian positions such as Commanders, Generals, Nobles and Barons. Since Stormgardes downfall, the Council now consists of a handful of millitary leaders, who officially rule the Kingdom until Prince Richard Trollbane comes of age to take the throne.

### The Iron Fist

The Iron Fist is a small group of Stromgarde Knights who specialise in the use of extremely heavy armor, Thorium. The Group was inspired by the Fenris Knight *'Tank'* who travelled to Refuge Point along with Fenris Knights *Maden* and *Anders*. Tank personally trained the physically strongest warriors that they had in order to condition them to be capable of wearing plated thorium for extended periods of time. Knights of the Iron Fist typically wield large sharp one handed axes and large shields, specialising in combating Ogres directly. They decided to name themselves after Stormgarde's insignia.