Kingdom of Alterac

* Lower House
	+ The Court of Alterac

* [ G ] Gold Forints
* [ S ] Silver Fillers
* [ C ] Copper Pengos

Plants

* 1
* 2
* 3

* Orange
* Black
* Brown
* Silver

(Formerly)

* Alliance of Lordaeron
* Orcish Horde (In secret)
* Alterac Syndicate

The **Kingdom of Alterac** was one of the seven human nations to join the Alliance of Lordaeron during the Second War. It was situated in the foothills and mountains of the land known as the Alterac Mountains. Formerly ruled by King Aiden Perenolde, Alterac was the weakest kingdom in the Alliance and a relatively small contributor of soldiers and supplies.

The Alteraci people are scattered, many of them form what is now the Syndicate. The masks worn by Syndicate members are orange, just like the national color of the fallen kingdom.

## History

Once the home of the Alteraci tribe, Alterac was founded during the third millennium Before the Dark Portal as the Empire of Arathor expanded across southern Lordaeron. The early human settlers built a city nestled in the Alterac Mountains, likely exploiting its position on important trade routes through the mountains. The settlement grew into a powerful city-state around the same time as Gilneas and Kul Tiras.

As the centuries passed, Alterac had grown to be culturally distinctive from those in the imperial capital of Strom, yet all the while remaining staunchly loyal to its authority. Its army had grown to be one of the strongest in the empire, likely from its position on the empire's northern frontier. Alteraci explorers were among those (along with Gilneans) to map out the lands of Khaz Modan and initiate diplomatic relations between Arathor and Ironforge.

### Independence from Arathor

Alterac's independence did not come out of a revolution or formal decree. Instead, independence grew slowly as Arathor began to decline. Strom's leadership was willing to surrender its authority to the city-states within its borders rather than deal with affairs themselves. By 1,200 Before the Dark Portal, Alterac was fully independent once the last of the Arathi emperors left Strom. It was a relatively small kingdom compared to the others. The capital came to be known as "Alterac City", likely to distinguish itself from the kingdom's name. Most of the nation's territory was rugged and mountainous terrain of the Alterac Mountains.

Before the coming of the orcs, the human kingdoms of Lordaeron faced challenges and obstacles from each other as the games of politics played out. Amidst those nations, there were no two rivals like Alterac and the Kingdom of Stromgarde. The proximity of the two and the apparent ambiguity of their mountain borders had led to several wars and skirmishes. On more than one occasion, King Thoras Trollbane led the armies of Stromgarde into battle against the honorable General Hath of Alterac. The tension of their repeated discord was noticeable at the Alliance summit as Perenolde glared at Trollbane. It is conceivable that this discord had alienated Alterac and its leader from the other Alliance nations who had positive relations with Trollbane. This alienation, in turn, would contribute to Perenolde's willingness to turn on those allies midway through the Second War.

Before the Second War happened, Alterac was a sizeable kingdom, with several towns and forts besides its palace and capital city. The kingdom owned the southern shores of Darrowmere Lake, and also owned land east of the Darrowmere River, notably the area near Ravenholdt Manor.

### The Second War

When news of the Orcish Horde arrived to Lordaeron, Alterac, led by King Aiden Perenolde, was initially reluctant to join the Alliance of Lordaeron. Perenolde initially asked if the orcs would be open to negotiation, but after seeing every other kingdom eventually join, and fearing being left alone to fight the Horde, Alterac finally decided to join the Alliance.

Some Alteraci soldiers joined Anduin Lothar's armies and loyally fought against the Horde in Hillsbrad and the Hinterlands, thought in lesser numbers than those sent by Lordaeron and Stromgarde.

Later during the Second War, as the Horde ravaged its way through the southern realms up to the elven kingdom of Quel'Thalas, Perenolde started fearing for the safety of Alterac. He directly contacted Warchief Orgrim Doomhammer through a messenger bird and secretly met with him. Impressed that Doomhammer was able to speak Common, Aiden started finding the orc a cultured and honorable warrior. The two leaders negotiated an agreement: in exchange for free passage through the Alterac Mountains and other means of help from the kingdom, Doomhammer would keep his soldiers in check and not kill Alteraci citizens or raid Alteraci settlements. The Warchief even promised that after his conquest of Lordaeron, he would place Alterac under his protection, so that none may violate it, keeping the realm safe. Pleased with this agreement, Perenolde came back to his castle and announced to his general staff that starting immediately, Alterac would renege its vows with the Alliance and side with the Horde instead. Not all in the Alteraci leadership agreed with this decision, but they still obeyed their king.
Perenolde arranged for a convoy of high elves passing through Tarren Mill to be ambushed by forest trolls, organized a peasant revolt in Tyr's Hand to cover mining operations there, and attempted to assassinate Uther the Lightbringer by employing pirates to tamper with the Order of the Silver Hand. Perenolde also allowed the Horde through his kingdom unimpeded through mountain passes in Alterac leading towards Capital City. To accomplish this, he ordered his military leaders to garrison several northern mountain passes and avoid several south routes. Alteraci agents were eventually embedded into some of the orc clans, rendering them any assistance necessary.

Alterac sailors and soldiers were eventually caught fighting for the orcs during various battles of the war, including the major naval battle of Crestfall. After Perenolde's treachery was uncovered, the army of Stromgarde, led by Thoras Trollbane, traveled to the small kingdom. General Hath reluctantly confirmed Perenolde's treason once confronted by the king of Stromgarde. He then dispatched his troops to join Trollbane's in halting the orcish advance through the mountain passes.

King Terenas later marched his forces into Alterac and declared martial law, deposing the traitorous Perenolde and imprisoning him. The custody soon turned to a mere house arrest, confining Perenolde to his palace and the rest of his family on close watch, and the kingdom was put under Alliance control. As a sovereign king, he could not be exiled, executed, or simply imprisoned (in order to avoid worrying the other kings that the same reaction would occur if they disagreed on anything). The other kings wanted him to abdicate his position as king, so that he could be executed as a lesser noble. However, he refused, knowing it would mean his death. His kingdom had been put under martial law as a temporary solution on Daval Prestor's suggestion. Alterac's treasuries were also added to the Alliance's in order to finance the incoming measures that would happen after the war.

Alteraci survivors, particularly the dethroned king, later aided Ner'zhul's forces during the shaman's quest to steal magical artifacts to open new portals. During an orcish attack on New Stormwind in the aftermath of the Horde's defeat, Perenolde had the Book of Medivh stolen by his spies in an attempt to use for future leverage. The Book was taken by an Alterac mage but was ultimately traded to the Horde to rid his lands of the vengeful troops of Stromgarde and Lordaeron. Deathwing attacked the barracks holding the troops. His son Aliden was disgusted by the action of his father, knowing it would destroy everything he had done to try to clear the family name.

### *Aftermath of the Second War*

*Following the end of the war, Thoras Trollbane demanded that the eastern portion of Alterac be annexed to Stromgarde in recognition of its efforts and sacrifices during the conflict. King Terenas of Lordaeron was undecided on what to do, thinking about giving the throne to Perenolde's son, Aliden. Genn Greymane of Gilneas also joined the dispute, supporting the claims of a nephew of Perenolde, Isiden, who had taken refuge in Gilneas. Deathwing, disguised as Lord Daval Prestor, attempted to magically convince the leaders of the Alliance into making him Alterac's new ruler. Although he succeeded, and King Terenas planned to give control of the area to Lord Prestor, the plan was abandoned when Prestor "disappeared" (following Deathwing's defeat at Grim Batol).*

*At some point Aiden Perenolde died, leaving the door open for Lordaeron to at least partially annex the Alterac Mountains. At the outset of the Third War, Arthas Menethil traveled through the King's Road toward Strahnbrad, and its inhabitants considered him their lord, with the citizens also taking up arms for Lordaeron. A new resistance against them had appeared, however, in the form of the Syndicate, led by former Alteraci Prince Aliden after he rose up in the Durnholde military under the tutelage of his new mentor Aedelas Blackmoore.*
Since the Cataclysm in Year 28, the old Alteraci territories continue to be disputed between the Crushridge ogres, the orcish Frostwolf clan, the dwarven Stormpike clan, and the Syndicate brigands scattered across Strahnbrad and the Uplands.

### *Fourth War*

*Following the destruction of Lordaeron, Horde forces sought to occupy Alterac ruins, hoping to establish a defensible base of operations for the Horde in Lordaeron. In response, Alliance sent scouts to investigate the established fortifications and determine the numbers of local forces. No offensive, however, has been done to contest the region.*

(History taken from wowpedia, some parts are in progress of rework from the Aftermath of the second war down)

### Culture and people

* The demonym used for the people of Alterac is "Alteraci".
* [Hormone Free - Alterac Swiss] cheese was allegedly a favorite of Alterac's famed court.
* There is an old Alterac saying that goes: "A cat has nine lives but needs only one."
* The Alterac brewhound is a type of mastiff famous for rescuing mountain travelers.
* Founded centuries ago, the Church of the Holy Light spread its faith in Alterac, the citizens of the kingdom thus becoming followers of the Holy Light, as indicated by the chapel and the symbol of the church at the entrance of the cemetery in Alterac City.
* Like the other realms, the Kingdom of Alterac applied the death penalty for its criminals, the task being accomplished by an executioner, including hanging as gallows were employed.

### People from Alterac

#### Notable leaders

* King Aiden Perenolde †
* Lord Aliden Perenolde †

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