Place · Tirisfal Glades
Deathknell
The story
Deathknell is a fortified village nestled in a secluded valley in southwestern Tirisfal Glades. It serves as the primary awakening grounds for newly freed undead breaking free from the Lich King's grasp to join the Forsaken. Besieged by mindless Scourge remnants, local zealots, and aggressive wildlife, the settlement is a harsh proving ground for those claiming a place in Sylvanas Windrunner's kingdom.
Tucked away behind jagged hills just north of the Silverpine border, Deathknell is where newly awakened undead first open their eyes to their bleak reality. Unlike most settlements in Tirisfal Glades that preserved their human names from the fallen Kingdom of Lordaeron, Deathknell was explicitly renamed by the undead who claimed it. The town itself is cleaved in two: the Forsaken cling stubbornly to the southern grounds around the old church, while the northern half—including the village forge—remains overrun by mindless Scourge zombies and feral ghouls. Elite Deathguards keep the narrow gorge out of the valley securely sealed against intruders, allowing local caretakers to induct new arrivals into the Banshee Queen's service.
Questions, answered
Why was the town renamed Deathknell?
While most settlements throughout Tirisfal Glades retained their human Lordaeron names, Deathknell is a notable exception. The Forsaken chose the moniker intentionally upon taking root in the valley, marking the site as both the death of their old human existence and the grim bell sounding their rebirth into undeath.
Why is the northern half of the town overrun by undead?
Not every corpse raised in the wake of the Third War broke free with their minds intact. The northern village square and forge are infested by the 'Mindless Ones'—feral zombies, ghouls, and skeletons still driven by the residual, lingering will of the Scourge. Forsaken defenders regularly clear them out to salvage equipment and defend the church.
What is the Scarlet Crusade doing near Deathknell?
A detachment of the Scarlet Crusade maintains an encampment in the hills southeast of the village. Fanatically dedicated to destroying all undead indiscriminately, they monitor the pass, ambush newly awakened Forsaken, and exchange scouting intelligence with Scarlet strongholds elsewhere in Lordaeron.
Why can't the Forsaken use the local gold mine?
Night Web's Hollow, the gold mine situated in the cliffs northwest of the village, is completely overrun by aggressive spiders. Securing natural resources like gold is critical for the Forsaken war effort, but until the infestation is cleared, the settlement cannot exploit the vein.
Sources
- Wiki Adapted from the Warcraft Wiki article Deathknell (CC BY-SA 4.0)