Stormwind (kingdom)

The Kingdom of Stormwind (also called Kingdom of Azeroth ) is a human kingdom, nation  and country on the southern continent of the Eastern Kingdoms, Azeroth - with its capital at Stormwind City. Originally settled by descendants of the Arathi, Stormwind flourished until the First War when it was conquered and laid waste by the Orcish Horde. The survivors of that conflict, led by Anduin Lothar, sought refuge in Lordaeron, but were able to reclaim their homeland at the end of the Second War with the aid of the Alliance of Lordaeron. Since the fall of Lordaeron during the Third War, the kingdom of Stormwind has become the strongest bastion of humanity and the most powerful force in the now multiracial Alliance.

Stormwind is ruled by the House of Wrynn from their court at Stormwind Keep. Presently, the throne is occupied by King Varian Wrynn, father of Anduin Wrynn - who reigned in the absence of his father for a few years. Anduin was governed by his co-regents, Lady Katrana Prestor and Highlord Bolvar Fordragon. Also aiding in the governing of Stormwind is the House of Nobles, an executive branch of Stormwind's government who currently aids King Varian in Stormwind, during the difficult times the Alliance face now.

Stormwind's control and influence now reaches across all of the continent of Azeroth but it is unknown if Stranglethorn Vale falls under its jurisdiction due to the multitudes of other factions each having some sort of claim to the land.

History
The nation of Stormwind was originally founded approximately a millennium before the First War by the descendants of the Arathi bloodline, who had migrated south from the nation of Arathor. It had a long and peaceful history, with the king served loyally by the knights of the Brotherhood of the Horse and the clerics of the Holy Order of Northshire Clerics. Prior to the First War, the Wrynn dynasty ruled over the entire kingdom.

Azeroth's idyllic existence was shattered with the opening of the Dark Portal and the invasion of the Orcish Horde. After a long and bloody war, which cost the lives of both King Wrynn III and his son King Llane Wrynn, the orcs overran the entire kingdom, forcing the survivors to flee to the shores of Lordaeron. Anduin Lothar became regent lord, guiding the refugee nation in the name of the young Varian Wrynn.

Stormwind was the first kingdom invaded by the Horde during the First War. Beloved King Llane was killed in the attacks, and it was in his name that Sir Lothar led the Alliance forces to take the city back. With Stormwind under its control once again and serving as a strong base of operations, the Alliance eventually wrested most of Azeroth from the Horde's grip. The Alliance set to rebuilding, calling on whoever could spare artisans. Stormwind City was later rebuilt as New Stormwind after the Second War. Afterwards, the nation was split into several regions. The city became the capital of the kingdom of Stormwind. Most of Azeroth's former regions became separate democratic regions, but still influenced or controlled by the kingdom of Stormwind — with the exception of Westfall, which has fallen under anarchy, and is controlled by the Defias Brotherhood.

Now it holds one of the few remaining great human cities. It boasts a powerful city guard and a strong army, and it is a base of magical/divine study and contemplation in Azeroth.

With the fall of the northern kingdoms, Stormwind is by far the most populated city in the world. Boasting a population of two-hundred thousand people (predominantly human), it serves in many ways as the cultural and trade center of the Alliance, even with remote access to the sea. The humans living in the city are generally carefree and artistic, favoring light and colorful clothes, cuisine, and art.

However, the people of Stormwind find it difficult to accept Theramore's role as the home of the eastern Alliance, convinced not only that Stormwind should be the legitimate heir of Lordaeron's role in the past, but also that Theramore is doing little against the worsening situation within the Eastern Kingdoms.

Azeroth's description in Warcraft II manual
Leader: Regent Lord Anduin Lothar

Nation Color: Blue

Background: ''Before the coming of the Age of Chaos when the Portal was first opened, the kingdom of Azeroth was the mightiest of all Human nations. Ruled by the wise and just King Llane, Azeroth stood as a beacon of light and truth throughout the known world. After the First War, Azeroth and all of its lands were devastated by the Horde. With King Llane dead, Sir Lothar took charge of the shattered armies of Azeroth and led the survivors across the Great Sea to the shores of Lordaeron. King Terenas, ruler of Lordaeron, agreed to support the landless Azerothiens. The people of Azeroth settled near the Southshore region of Lordaeron, pledging their loyalty to the Alliance. Battle-hardened and brave, the last of the once great armies of Azeroth now seek retribution for the loss of their homeland.''

Territory and Outposts of Stormwind
Following the victory of the Alliance of Lordaeron over the Horde, Stormwind was reclaimed and rebuilt as New Stormwind. The kingdom is currently split into several smaller territories, including the region of Stormwind.

During the absence of King Varian Wrynn, co-regent Lady Katrana Prestor managed to sow discord among the various regions of Azeroth. In World of Warcraft, her true identity is revealed and her hold over Highlord Bolvar Fordragon is broken. With Varian's return during the time of the war against the Lich King, the grand kingdom began to re-build with the threat of the Defias Brotherhood over and the many other problems that plagued the other territories slowly began to get back on top of things and maintain order. The region of Westfall seemed to officially re-join the Kingdom with the aid that was sent.

However this brief moment of progress was interrupted with the end of the war in Northrend and the recent Cataclysm that broke the world. The Kingdom now faces a more economical issue as the recent war now mounted with the Alliance-Horde War has seriously damaged the kingdoms economy. Many have become homeless and evicted forced to find work and a place to live. On the other hand the Kingdom itself has grown too.

Azeroth

 * Stormwind - Total control; a kingdom; ruled by the monarchy of the Wrynn dynasty.
 * Elwynn Forest - Alliance; Under complete control of Stormwind and close enough to enjoy considerable Alliance guardianship; sends its criminals to Stormwind; it has its own democratic government. The town of Goldshire is this regions main hub.
 * Westfall - Alliance; The region has re-joined the kingdom as one of its nations officially again. The Defias are no longer the controlling faction of the area with the balance of power shifting to the control of the kingdom. It has become a place of poverty however with commuters pouring in. The fortified town of Sentinel Hill is this regions main hub.
 * Redridge Mountains - Alliance; under Stormwind's control; the Stormwind army maintains a token presence here and handles Redridge's few crime problems. The town of Lakeshire is this regions main hub.
 * Duskwood - Alliance; The kingdoms most southern region, under the protection of Stormwind but has its own democratic government and also has control of its own small military force Night Watch Militia. The town of Darkshire is this regions main hub. The Gilnean Worgen have settled in the region at Raven Hill to take care of the Worgen problem.
 * Deadwind Pass - Under Jurisdiction; Although this region contains no faction encampment, the area itself falls under the control of the Kingdom of Stormwind.
 * Burning Steppes - Under Jurisdiction; A region once part of the Redridge Mountains, it was blasted apart by Ragnaros when the Dark Iron Dwarves summoned him in hopes of winning the War of the Three Hammers. Although a fiery wasteland now and the kingdom has no use for such land, the ambitious young Morgan leads her militia with the prosperous idea of taking back the land of her people and building a new kingdom there to show the Alliance it still has potential. The land has no fixed settlement but for Alliance the outpost of Morgan's Vigil serves as the hub.
 * Swamp of Sorrows - Contested; The area previously in the past was under the control of the Horde, since the Cataclysm though there has been an extreme power shift as the nation of Stormwind has become the main power in the region during the questing experience which results in the Horde being forced to flee the area. The Draenei have also officially claimed the Harborage after allying with the Broken there. Currently the army of Stormwind holds the power in the region from their base Marshtide Watch but the Draenei control the only alliance civilian village.
 * Blasted Lands - Contested; After the Second War when Stormwind had been re-built and it began its campaign to re-build its kingdom once again. The kingdom felt it wise to construct Nethergarde Keep to watch over the Dark Portal for any new threats that might once again challenge the safety of the kingdom and the rest of the known world at the time. This effectivly made Stormwind the dominant power in the region for years to come. Since the cataclysm, the Horde have managed to construct a small fortress in western Blasted Lands and have started a senseless conflict with Nethergarde. Some Gilneans have also come to the region setteling in their new town of Surwich.

Khaz Modan

 * Menethil Harbor - With the fall of Lordaeron, the residents of this town are now loyal to the Stormwind monarchy. Since the Cataclysm though, the entire harbor has flooded and damaged - with half of it underwater and its inhabitants fighting to repair the damage and stop the flood.
 * Highbank - Serves as a base of operations for the Alliance in Twilight Highlands.
 * Victor's Point - Foward command post for the Alliance against the Twilight Citadel.

Lordaeron

 * Chillwind Camp - With the fall of Southshore, this bustling foward base camp has become the only presence the kingdom has too preserving Lordaeron in its pre-Third War days. Although there are many other nations spread throughout the continent which were part of the old Alliance of Lordaeron who are loyal to Stormwind, they are not part of their kingdom. The nations that remain and are hell bent on protecting their land and ridding Lordaeron from the Forsaken once and for all are the humans of Stromgarde, the wildhammer dwarves of Aerie Peak and the humans and worgen of Gilneas.

Northrend

 * Valiance Keep - One of the two primary ports of entry for the Alliance in Northrend. It serves as the headquarters for the Valiance Expedition.
 * Valgarde - An early established seaport, this rough settlement sits on the shores of Daggercap Bay.
 * Westguard Keep - A well-fortified base of operations situated atop the Howling Fjord cliffs.
 * Fort Wildervar - A fortified town nestled in the hills of Frostblade Peak.
 * Fordragon Hold - The front line stronghold, spearheading the war at the Angrathar the Wrathgate
 * Wintergarde Keep - Used as base of operations for the 7th Legion veteran forces. The lower half of this tiered city has been taken over by the Scourge.
 * Amberpine Lodge - The Alliance logistics base camp responsiable for operations in Grizzly Hills.