Stratholme

The city of Stratholme (pronounced ˈstrathːhɔlm ) was the northernmost and second most populous city of the kingdom of Lordaeron, and is the city where the Order of the Silver Hand was founded. Today, Stratholme is the Scourge's capital in Lordaeron. The mad Prince Arthas ravaged Stratholme in the Third War and the undead moved in soon after. Stratholme burns to this day.

History
Stratholme was the second largest human city in Lordaeron, matched only by the capital. At the beginning of the Second War, Stratholme, specifically the Alonsus Chapel, was the location where the Archbishop Alonsus Faol founded the holy Order of the Knights of the Silver Hand, and indoctrinated its first five members, including Uther the Lightbringer and Saidan Dathrohan.

The original Stratholme was a port town built on the northeast edge of Darrowmere Lake. Stratholme was the chief source of Alliance oil in the north. During the Second War, it was preparing to deliver massive amounts of Oil to the kingdoms in western Lordaeron. The Horde sabotaged its refineries and platforms to halt their shipment, and destroyed the city. With the destruction of Stratholme, the Alliance supply lines to Quel'Thalas were severed.

Between wars
Stratholme was apparently rebuilt in landlocked northern Lordaeron after the Second War. In its glory days, it housed nearly 25,000 people, and included many well known buildings, from the glorious keep to Fras Siabi's famous tobacco shop.

The city was also where the one of the original paladins, Tirion Fordring, was tried for treason against the Alliance for defending the orc Eitrigg. The trial was conducted by Uther the Lightbringer himself and overseen by various leaders of the Alliance. Tirion was found guilty, stripped of his powers (unsuccessfully), and was exiled from the Alliance lands. The following day the city came under attack by a small but well trained band of orcs under the command of the young warchief Thrall, determined to save Eitrigg. Admist the chaos Tirion and Eitrigg escaped into the countryside.

Third War
Just before the Third War the Plague reached Stratholme in infected shipments of grain, most likely from Andorhal. The populace, unaware of the plague, baked and consumed the infected grain. The dreadlord Mal'Ganis was silently overseeing the operation.

Soon after, as the first undead started to rise, Prince Arthas and a contingent of soldiers arrived at Stratholme, but realized that the city had already been infected. Arthas thought that the only way of keeping the plagued (but not yet turned) citizens out of the hands of Mal'Ganis was by killing them. Most of the soldiers, including Uther the Lightbringer and Jaina Proudmoore chose not to help Arthas, thinking his purge was madness. Arthas and some soldiers, however, went on, and the city's population was almost completely massacred by them, along with the undead. Arthas confronted Mal'Ganis inside the city, but the dreadlord told him to seek him out in Northrend, fleeing from the site. The majority of the few survivors left with Jaina Proudmoore.

Stratholme was later taken under the control of the Undead Scourge. After the end of the war, when Arthas was called back to Northrend, the lich overlord Kel'Thuzad established Stratholme as his capital and positioned his floating fortress, the Necropolis Naxxramas, above the ruined city.

Today
Stratholme is quite possibly the largest stronghold held by the Scourge in all of Lordaeron. Leading Scourge forces in the city below is a former noble turned death knight by the name of Baron Rivendare, who coordinates the efforts of the Lich King in the Plaguelands, where he constantly battles the force of the Argent Dawn. Kel'Thuzad raised undead structures among the human ruins. Undead and necromancers control the city while gargoyles and frost wyrms patrol the sky. Noxious orange mist oozes from the buildings and poisons living creatures, transforming them into servants of the Scourge. Kel'Thuzad's rule here is absolute, and from here he stretches his skeletal hands to control the surrounding plaguelands.

Some consider Stratholme to be one of the most dangerous places in Azeroth outside of Northrend. Today the city houses a few hundred Scarlet Crusade warriors from the Crimson Legion who fight against the thousands of undead.


 * Once the jewel of northern Lordaeron, the city of Stratholme is where Prince Arthas turned against his mentor, Uther Lightbringer, and slaughtered hundreds of his own subjects who were believed to have contracted the dreaded plague of undeath. Arthas' downward spiral and ultimate surrender to the Lich King soon followed. The broken city is now inhabited by the undead Scourge -- led by the powerful lich, Kel'Thuzad. A contingent of Scarlet Crusaders, led by Grand Crusader Dathrohan, also holds a portion of the ravaged city. The two sides are locked in constant, violent combat. Those adventurers brave (or foolish) enough to enter Stratholme will be forced to contend with both factions before long. It is said that the city is guarded by three massive watchtowers, as well as powerful necromancers, banshees and abominations. There have also been reports of a malefic Death Knight riding atop an unholy steed, dispensing indiscriminate wrath on all those who venture within the realm of the Scourge.

Cataclysm changes
Stratholme was originally divided between the forces of the Scarlet Crusade, led by Grand Crusader Saidan Dathrohan — secretly possessed by the dreadlord Balnazzar — and the Scourge under Baron Rivendare. The two sides were still accessible from either side, resulting in one large instance. This has changed in Cataclysm, as the gate between the Festival Lane and Elders' Square has been permanently shut, resulting in two separate dungeons within the same instance (much like the Scarlet Monastery's four separate wings). The instance portal inside the main entrance, which before Cataclysm was sealed behind a gate, is now open.

On the Scarlet side, Balnazzar has since shed his human form and killed all of the Crusaders with him, raising them into undeath and calling them "the Risen". Cannon Master Willey, Archivist Galford and Malor the Zealous — the other main bosses in the Scarlet wing — are now undead as a result, known as Willey Hopebreaker, Instructor Galford and Commander Malor, respectively. On the undead side, Baron Rivendare, who — despite his beheading — returned to Scourge service in the Scarlet Enclave and Naxxramas, has been replaced by Lord Aurius Rivendare.

The questgivers for Stratholme — Crusade Commander Eligor Dawnbringer, Master Craftsman Wilhelm, and Packmaster Stonebruiser — are inside the instance at the main gate; Crusade Commander Korfax and Archmage Angela Dosantos — who give quests for the Scourge side — are inside the service entrance.

An invisible wall blocks any attempts to access the un-instanced Stratholme with a flying mount.

Dungeon denizens

 * Abominations
 * Banshees
 * Crypt fiends
 * Death knights (one, Lord Aurius Rivendare)
 * Dreadlords (one, Balnazzar)
 * Gargoyles
 * Ghouls
 * s
 * Skeletal warriors
 * Skeletons
 * Wights (one, Magistrate Barthilas)
 * Wraiths
 * Zombies

Summary
Stratholme is divided into two parts: Scarlet Side, formerly the "Live Side", which goes from the main entrance into the Scarlet Crusade-controlled citadel, and Scourge Side or "Undead Side", accessed through the Service Entrance to the east of the main gates, now permanently unlocked, to the Scourge Slaughter House. However, both "sides" are part of the same instance and players can complete both tracks.

When using the dungeon finder, the end boss, and thus the side of Stratholme your party needs to clear, is determined by the entrance you are ported to. The main gate will lead to the Scarlet Side, while the service entrance will lead to the Scourge Side.

To get to Lord Aurius Rivendare, the 3 Ash'ari Crystals must be toppled. These Crystals are guarded by 3 of the bosses: Baroness Anastari, Nerub'enkan and Maleki the Pallid. Kill them, and all five Thuzadin Acolytes inside the ziggurats they guard, and the Crystals will be toppled, allowing you entry to Slaughter Square where Lord Rivendare awaits.

Once you clear out all the abomination trash in Slaughter Square where the Slaughter House stands, Aurius will send out Ramstein the Gorger to kill the group. After Ramstein, two waves of trash, Mindless Undead and Black Guard Sentry, must be killed to unlock Lord Rivendare's room, to which he challenges the players to take him on.

Scarlet side

 * Also known as: FD Strat, Strat Scarlet, Strat Light, Scarlet Strath, Strath Live, Living Strat, Liveside, Hu(man) Strat, West Strat, SM Strat
 * Enemy Level Range: 42–56
 * End Boss: Balnazzar
 * Mini Bosses:
 * Commander Malor
 * Instructor Galford
 * Willey Hopebreaker
 * Timmy the Cruel
 * Hearthsinger Forresten
 * The Unforgiven
 * Skul
 * Stratholme Courier
 * Triggered Boss
 * Fras Siabi
 * Opening up his tobacco box for the quest.
 * Postmaster Malown
 * Opening up various mailboxes with their corresponding keys.
 * Risen Hammersmith
 * Clicking on a parchment named "Blacksmith Plans" will trigger the Hammersmith. The plans can appear in at least 2 known locations:
 * On the floor in the Hoard area before Willey Hopebreaker
 * On a bench in the alcoves occupied by Instructor Galford

Quests

 * 1) (optional)

Scourge side

 * Also known as: BD Strat, Undead Strat, Deadside, Scourge Strat, Baron side, UD Strat, Baron Run, Strat UD, East Strat, Strat Dead
 * Enemy Level Range: 42–56
 * End Boss: Lord Aurius Rivendare
 * Mini Bosses:
 * Magistrate Barthilas
 * Baroness Anastari
 * Nerub'enkan
 * Maleki the Pallid
 * Ramstein the Gorger
 * Stonespine (Rare Spawn)
 * Triggered Boss
 * Postmaster Malown
 * Opening up various mailboxes with their corresponding keys.
 * Magistrate Barthilas
 * When you enter through the Service Entrance, he will run to the end of the Gauntlet and be fought there.
 * Black Guard Swordsmith
 * The Black Guard Swordsmith is triggered by clicking on some blacksmithing plans on the floor to the right of the stairs of the First Ziggurat. Baroness Anastari is at the top of the stairs.

Videos

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