Zul'Aman


 * This page is about the history of Zul'Aman. For the original raid instance, see Zul'Aman (original). For the 5-man instance added in patch 4.1.0, see Zul'Aman (instance).

Zul'Aman is the capital of the Amani Tribe, located in the southeastern portion of Quel'Thalas.

History


Once, forest trolls controlled a vast swath of Lordaeron. Their empire was called Zul'Aman, and the area currently known as Zul'Aman was their power center. Their dominion stretched across the continent, and they threatened the nascent human nations and the fledgling kingdom of Quel'Thalas with extinction. The high elves granted their arcance knowledge to the humans of Lordaeron in exchange for help in defeating the Amani trolls. The allied forces crushed the empire, driving them to near extinction. Now, the tiny area in northeastern Lordaeron is all that remains of the Amani tribe's dominion.

In the years after their defeat, the trolls largely gave up their imperialist mindset, though they protect their small territory zealously. They have never forgiven the humans or the elves for their near-genocide. Warbands patrol the forest, slaying all living (and undead) creatures that are not trolls or natural forest beasts. They worship ancient deities, though whether these deities are the mythic old gods or some strange creation of their voodoo witch doctors is unknown.

Any trolls encountered try to kill on sight. Explorers need to be careful, but are not totally without allies in Zul'Aman. Several bands of high elves, survivors from Quel'Thalas, fled south and now wander throughout the forest. Those who stay one step ahead of the trolls survive; those who do not will learn first-hand what the cannibalistic trolls do with their victims. Scourge patrols, hunting the elven refugees, also stalk through the land.

The forest troll kingdom of Zul'Aman is a dark, primal woodland. The trolls' voodoo energies permeate the climate and ancient, stepped ziggurats rise above the canopy. Warlord Jin'zakk is rumoured to be the commander of the Amani, and his witch doctors and shamans provide magic support. In addition, Warlod Zul'Jin rules as chief of the trolls.

Budd and the Zandalari
At the behest of Budd Nedreck adventures entered Zul'Aman to steal the treasures within. Not only did said adventures steal the treasures they also were able to beat back the Amani within Zul'Aman and successfully killed Warlord Zul'jin. With Zul'jin dead the halls of Zul'Aman become quiet until the coming of the Zandalari. With the aid of the Zandalari, a new troll empire is brewing, spearheaded by Warlord Daakara.

All of the troll tribes were invited to become a part of this new empire, including the Darkspear under Chieftain Vol'jin. However, Vol'jin has declined this offer, and instead joined forces with the Ranger-General of Silvermoon, Halduron Brightwing, and his Farstriders to counter the threat this new empire poses. In turn, Halduron has called upon Vereesa Windrunner and her rangers to join the battle, and the three can be seen planning their next move on the outskirts of Zul'Aman.

People and culture
Forest trolls are vile creatures. They practice evil voodoo magic and worship primal beings they call the Forest Gods. Violent cannibals, forest trolls eat their own kind as well as their enemies with equal zest. Forest trolls joined forces with the Horde in the Second War, as the orcs promised them vengeance against Lordaeron and Quel'Thalas, but the trolls' savagery was too much even for the orcs. The brutal Amani tribe now sides with no one; their hatred knows no limits. Revenge and blood are their only goals.

Witch doctors control Zul'Aman, with shamans and warchiefs in lesser leadership positions. The exception to this tradition is Warlord Jin'zakk, whom few have ever seen. The voodoo witch doctors wield arcane magic, while shamans provide naturalistic support. Forest troll society revolves around hunting, spear fishing, shamanism and voodoo. They make their capital at the Shrine of Ula-Tek, a massive ziggurat they hold sacred. Forest troll society is patriarchal, though cunning and aggressive females occasionally hold important positions. Forest trolls are primitive, possessing few metalsmithing skills and no knowledge of steam technology. They are masters with thrown weapons, be they axes or spears.

With both Lordaeron and Quel'Thalas fallen, the forest trolls see a chance to regain their old empire. They push the borders of their realm ever outward. Warbands strike south, north and west, seeking to reclaim more of their land. The trolls are myriad — almost 20,000 total, and most of them skilled hunters. They have been fighting for centuries and are competent tacticians. Alone, Zul'Aman has little chance against the Scourge. However, if approached in the right manner (by a tauren or goblin, perhaps?) and promised their empire, they may be willing to join an alliance.

Like all trolls, Zul'Aman's forest trolls are lean, strong and tough. They possess long ears and noses and jutting canines. Their faces are hard and feral. Forest troll hide ranges from dark brown to light green. Many forest trolls wear primitive jewelry, often wood or bone, on their clothing, strung around their necks or thrust through their noses and earlobes. The males often maintain tall, dyed mohawks. Some paint themselves in tattoos. Forest trolls are organized into tribes, with names such as Blackleaf and Treeblight, and members of the same tribe are relatively loyal to each other.

Several quel'dorei bands still wander loose in Zul'Aman. The high elves, scattered and lost as they are in Zul'Aman, still have some importance to the Scourge. The Scourge is lead by Necromancer Ru'sad. The elves know forests better than the Scourge, and the ghouls and zombies make a fearsome amount of noise trudging through the overgrowth alerting the elves. The gargoyles are somewhat more helpful; they fly through the clearings and dense tangles of the jungle scouts for Scourge patrols in the jungle and their leaders in Stratholme. They allowed the scourge to discover one refugee group and kill them as they slept.

The Scourge are confident that it is only a matter of time before they finally destroy the elves. They intend to prevent them from joining with their allies in Hillsbrad or Khaz Modan, or rally together. They intended to stop them from reviving the Sunwell.

Geography
Zul'Aman is a temperate forestland of towering trees, dark shadows and ancient ruins and ziggurats. These ruins and odd, stepped pyramids remain from the days of Zul'Aman's empire, but they could be much older. They may be Titan or Old God remnants. Elevation rises toward the north, and a hilly region dominates the Quel'Thalas border. The mighty Greenrush River begins in Zul'Aman's Lake Abassi and exits the region in the southwest.

Primitive forest troll settlements are scattered throughout the zone. Weathered ruins hide among the trees, covered with vines and the dust of ages. Trolls guard treasure and captives, and ancient ruins of indeterminate origins dominate forest clearings. Bands of high elf refugees avoid destruction at troll and undead hands.