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Gilneas is a human nation and kingdomTemplate:Cite located in the peninsula directly south of Silverpine Forest on the continent of Lordaeron. The kingdom was founded following the breaking of Arathor and is ruled by the Greymane dynasty. Besides the peninsula, the kingdom also included the island of Zul'Dare.
Gilneas is a large peninsula that juts into the sea south of western Lordaeron. Silverpine Forest lies to the northeast and Kul Tiras awaits across the sea to the south. Lord Genn Greymane never supported the Lordaeron Alliance in the Second War. Thus, after the war, he constructed the Greymane Wall: a massive barrier spanning the entire northern border. The enormous wall barricades Gilneas from Lordaeron. Gilneas does not allow anyone in or out, and none knows what has been transpiring there since the end of the Second War.Template:Cite
It is currently unknown what will happen with Gilneas, if it will be released to the public game or not.
Chris Metzen mentioned in an interview that Blizzard has some "very, very, very interesting plans for Gilneas", but he would not reveal any further details.[1]
History
By the start of the Second War Gilneas was one of the most powerful human nations, and because of this, the kingdom's ruler, Genn Greymane, was not a strong supporter of the Alliance, believing that his own armies would be more than enough to deal with any threat. Despite this, Gilneas was not neutral towards the Horde, and did join the Alliance late in the Second War, although Lord Greymane constantly argued against its existence from beginning to end. Shortly after the Horde was defeated, Greymane pulled his nation's "support" from the Alliance, refusing to spend his nation's resources on keeping the orcs alive in internment camps or in rebuilding other nations devastated by the war. Greymane's isolationism may have been influenced by Daval Prestor, secretly the black dragon Deathwing in human form, who Greymane had supported to the throne of Alterac.
Sometime after the Second War, Greymane constructed the Greymane Wall — an enormous stone barrier that now separates Gilneas from Lordaeron.Template:Cite Attempting to forever remove his nation from what he considered "other people's troubles", he barricaded Gilneas behind the wall. No one, not even other humans are allowed to enter Gilneas. Even during the Scourge's invasion of Lordaeron, while human refugees came begging to be allowed in, the Greymane Wall remained closed. Nevertheless, more refugees and other nations have entreated Gilneas for aid. These unfortunates never see a Gilnean and are easy prey for the worgen that occasionally stray south from Shadowfang Keep.Template:Cite Gilneas is presumed not to have been affected by the Scourge. Although the land connection to Gilneas is closed, ships from this self-isolated nation have been spotted throughout the world, such as the pirate ship Heedless of captain Baron Longshore. Apparently thanks to the latter, Jaina Proudmoore managed to convince a number of people from Gilneas to join her followers in their exodus to Kalimdor during the Third War. These people formed the Gilneas Brigade.
The Greymane Wall in World of Warcraft
Lord Genn Greymane, a brawny warrior who, if he still lives, must be in his seventies, has ruled Gilneas for decades. No one has seen a Gilnean for ten years.Template:Cite Perhaps something dire has befallen Gilneas.Template:Cite
Gilneas' current state is partly under speculation. It is not known if Genn Greymane is still alive and ruling Gilneas. The dwarven explorer, Brann Bronzebeard, has heard whispers from Kul Tiras that the Naga may have taken Gilneas,Template:Cite though there is no proof to support this.
[Gilneas Sparkling Water] can be purchased in the Old Hillsbrad Foothills section of the Caverns of Time instance. This water replaces [Purified Draenic Water], which wouldn't have been found on Azeroth at the time the instance takes place.
People and Culture
A person from Gilneas is referred to as Gilnean.Template:Cite
Like their leader, Gilneas’ people are burly and gruff. Extremely isolationist, they supported the Greymane Wall’s construction. They are likely still beyond the wall, farming, hunting and otherwise supporting their nation. Most speak common, and have their faith in the Holy Light. Their resources are unknown.Template:Cite
Geography
Ten years ago, Gilneas was a cold, rainy place and it likely has not changed much. Ocean surrounds the peninsula on three sides, making sea storms common. High cliffs on the shores protect Gilneas from sailors’ curious eyes. The Greymane Wall is the only evident site in Gilneas.Template:Cite
Subzones
Gilneas in Warcraft II
Leader: Genn Greymane
Nation Color: Black
Background: Despite the impending Orcish invasion, Gilneas has remained separate from the Alliance of Lordaeron. As ruler of one of the strongest human nations, Genn Greymane is convinced that his own armies can deal with any threat, and has therefore remained unmoved by Lord Lothar's pleas for unity. Despite this apparent disdain for the Alliance, the denizens of Gilneas harbor no fondness for the orcs or their allies and are prepared to meet them blade for blade.Template:Cite
Gilneas in WarCraft III
In the Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos Orc Campaign: The Invasion of Kalimdor in Chapter Three: Cry of the Warsong, one of the human factions you face has the force name Gilneas Brigade, implying that people from Gilneas traveled to Kalimdor with Jaina and are very likely still with her now.
Trivia
- At one time its said that the kingdom of Gilneas had land only at the tip of the peninsula that bears its nameTemplate:Cite (however, its said elsewhere Genn Greymane owned the entire peninsula even back then).Template:Cite Template:Cite
- Gilneas may be added to WoW in the future. It is not currently a part of the physical geography of the gameworld. On the other side of the Greymane Wall there is only a small, flat area, bordered by the ocean.
- If you get a view of the inner side of the wall you may see that the inner gate is broken down from the inside.
- Before the new Alliance race for the Burning Crusade was announced there were rumors that the inhabitants of Gilneas have turned into worgen and that worgen would be the new race and Gilneas their homeland. This rumor came around again in july 2009 due to some data files found in the game that feature female masks for worgen.
- After Patch 3.1.0, the loading screen/ship route from Menethil to Theramore no longer crosses Gilneas.
- A coin fished from Dalaran's fountain called
[Genn's Copper Coin] reads "Pah, the fountains in Gilneas could grant ten times as many wishes as Dalaran's!"
See also
World of Warcraft: Cataclysm
Template:Human nations