Auberdine

Auberdine used to be the main center of civilization in Darkshore previous to the Shattering, where it became the Ruins of Auberdine. Most of Auberdine was populated by night elves, but the occasional dwarf or gnome, and even high elf could also be found there. Auberdine was a small port town with little to defend except a safe way of life.

Description
Auberdine used to be the sole warm haven amid the desolate land of Darkshore. The oppressive weather and the creatures that lurk in the shadows make much of Darkshore inhospitable, but this thriving trading post was a safe place for heroes to restock and rest.

While quite appealing, Auberdine offered a brutal contrast from the serenity that can be felt in Darnassus. Even the sun seems to be too shy to cast its rays upon the land, which seems to be kept cloaked in a dark and mysterious mist. The buildings in Auberdine were quite different from those found in Darnassus. Here, the stone was mostly replaced by wood, and every house had a gloomy look, as if a spell was cast upon the outpost.

Visitors could stop at the Fish Eye Tavern for a hot bite to eat, purchase supplies at Tassik's Tradepost, or, if they had the knack for sailing, rent a skiff at Syran's Boat House. Residents were quite outgoing for night elves and free with advice, whether offering tips on sailing or advising on travel through Darkshore. The residents' jovial demeanor was but a thin veneer covering a grim determination to protect their homes. There were few armed forces in a military sense, but local scouts and rangers served as a ready militia and were prepared to defend their quiet hamlet to the death.

Darkshore is generally shunned by all, and all attempts at colonization except Auberdine had failed, even by other races besides the night elves. Auberdine existed for necessity more than anything else, as a connection to Darnassus from the mainland. The people there, being made up of outcasts and misfits, were generally looked down on by the capital's residents. The Sentinel garrison tried to remain as separate as possible from the populace. An inn here is called the Last Haven Tavern.

History


Auberdine had previously been damaged during the Sundering and later wars. After the Third War, the night elves who had been living in Darkshore began to focus their attention on rebuilding the town. Most of the town is made of new buildings, as the night elves cleared away the ruins they could not restore. The town had about 200 residents just after the Third War, mostly night elves, but has grew to about 5,500 residents in recent times.

During the attacks of the Nightmare Lord into Azeroth, Auberdine was one of the towns where all of its inhabitants fell prey to the unwaking nightmares. It was also at this location that Tyrande Whisperwind and Broll Bearmantle met Lucan Foxblood.

Cataclysm


Auberdine was destroyed by the upheaval caused by Deathwing's return in World of Warcraft: Cataclysm, and what is left of it is known as the Ruins of Auberdine. A new night elf encampment, Lor'danel, in northern Darkshore, replaced Auberdine as the primary base of operations for Alliance players questing in the region. A refugee camp was formed near the ruins. The port between mainland Kalimdor and the islands (Teldrassil and Azuremyst), as well as to the Eastern Kingdoms, is now located in Rut'theran.

Travel connections
Before the cataclysm, Auberdine had the following travel connections:

Flight

 * Rut'theran Village (free)
 * Talonbranch Glade
 * Talrendis Point
 * Stonetalon Peak
 * Astranaar
 * Nijel's Point
 * Feathermoon Stronghold
 * Theramore Isle
 * Moonglade

Flight prices have the usual discounts according to the player's reputation with the Flight Master city (Darnassus).

Boat

 * Stormwind Harbor (replaces Menethil boat)
 * Rut'theran Village
 * Valaar's Berth

Travelling
Auberdine used to be the port for Night Elves, having direct access to Rut'theran Village, and going to most of Kalimdor and Stormwind City. However, after the Shattering, Auberdine was destroyed, and Rut'theran Village took most of the port functions that were previously in Auberdine.

Before the cataclysm, the following zones were reachable from Auberdine:


 * Teldrassil could be reached by hippogryph or by boat, both of which would land in Rut'theran Village. From there, it is only a short walk up the hill and through a portal to get to the capital city of Darnassus, which offers banking, training, and auctioning opportunities not found in Auberdine. After the cataclysm, the hippogryph ride to Teldrassil was moved to Lor'danel, and the boat path was removed.


 * Ashenvale is south of Darkshore and can be reached by walking. Before Auberdine's destruction, it could also be reached by taking a hippogryph to Astranaar.


 * Stonetalon Mountains are south of Ashenvale, but the hippogryph could take a player there if they had the flight path to Stonetalon Peak.


 * Dustwallow Marsh is on the opposite side of Kalimdor, but even so, the hippogryph would take a player directly to Theramore Isle if they had the flight path. (The flight took approximately ten minutes.)


 * A boat from Azuremyst Isle, the draenei starting area, ran to the west dock of Auberdine. The other landing, the port of Valaar's Berth, is west of the Exodar, the draenei capital. (Requires Burning Crusade). After the cataclysm, the dock for this boat was moved to Rut'theran Village.


 * Stormwind City is located in the Eastern Kingdoms. To get there, a player could take the boat from the southern pier in Auberdine. The player could then journey on into the rest of the Eastern Kingdoms, or take a different boat to Northrend. Prior to Wrath of the Lich King, the boat at this dock went instead to Menethil Harbor in Wetlands. After the cataclysm, the dock for this boat was moved to Rut'theran Village.