Burning Steppes

The Burning Steppes are a scorched, volcanic wasteland flanking the southern base of Blackrock Mountain. Formed by the catastrophic summoning of Ragnaros centuries ago, this treacherous territory holds the primary overland passage between Stormwind and Khaz Modan. Today, it crawls with rogue Blackrock orcs, Firegut ogres, Dark Iron dwarves, and broodlings of the black dragonflight.

Long ago, these foothills were simply the northern reaches of the Redridge Mountains. During the War of the Three Hammers, the exiled Dark Iron clan established their kingdom here, raising their capital city of Thaurissan. Facing total defeat at the hands of the Bronzebeard and Wildhammer clans, the desperate Sorcerer-Thane Thaurissan attempted to conjure elemental forces. Instead, he shattered the earth and summoned Ragnaros the Firelord into Azeroth. The violent explosion pulverized the surrounding mountains, tore open rivers of lava, and birthed the colossal volcano known as Blackrock Mountain, leaving the steppes forever charred and barren.