Stratholme (Classic)

Template:Strat The city of Stratholme was the northernmost city of the Kingdom of Lordaeron, and was the city where the Order of the Silver Hand was founded. The largest city after Lordaeron's capital, Stratholme was destroyed during the Third War by the undead Scourge, and has been split between the overzealous Scarlet Crusade led by Grand Crusader Dathrohan, and the Scourge forces led by the death knight Baron Rivendare. Please note, any connections made to the Fender Stratocaster Guitar in the naming of this city are purely coincidental.

History

The second largest human city in Lordaeron, matched only by the capital, Stratholme was the base of key oil refineries in the Second War. In its glory days this jewel of humanity's largest and proudest nation housed more than 20,000 people, and included many well known buildings, from the glorious keep to Fras Siabi's famous tobacco shop.

The city's population was almost completely massacred by Arthas,who thought the only way of keeping its plagued (but not yet turned) citizens out of the hands of Mal'ganis was by purging (killing) them; the majority of the survivors left with Jaina Proudmoore. When Arthas was called back to Northrend, the Lich Kel'thuzad established Stratholme as his capital and positioned his fortress, the Necropolis Naxxramas, above the ruined city.

Stratholme is the second largest stronghold held by the Scourge in all of Lordaeron,(the first being Naxxramas). The disease that corrupts Plaguewood - and to a lesser extent, all of the Eastern Plaguelands - comes from the city. Leading Scourge forces in the city below is a death knight known as Baron Rivendare, a former noble of Lordaeron who coordinated the efforts of the Lich King in the Plaguelands until his death at the hands of operatives in the employ of the Argent Dawn.

Some consider Stratholme to be one of the most dangerous places outside of Northrend. They are right, though Blackrock Spire and Anh'Qiraj could be considered just as bad. Today the city houses a few hundred Scarlet Crusade warriors from the Crimson Legion who fight valiantly (or fanatically, depending on who you ask) against the thousands of undead.

From the World Dungeons page on the official World of Warcraft Community Site:

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.

Summary

Stratholme

Map at Worldofwar.net

• Also known as: Strat, Strath
• Found in: Eastern Plaguelands
• 5 Player Cap (Prior to Patch 1.10 it was a 10 Player cap)

Stratholme is basically divided into two parts, at least in the minds of players. Scarlet-Side, which goes from the main entrance into the Scarlet Crusade-controlled citadel, and Scourge-Side, which goes from the Service Entrance (which requires a key) to a Scourge Slaughterhouse. However, both "sides" are part of the same instance and players can complete both tracks.

Scarlet Side

The Scarlet Bastion

• 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: 55–62
• End Boss: Grand Crusader Dathrohan/Balnazzar
• Mini Bosses:
  • Malor the Zealous
  • Archivist Galford
  • Cannonmaster Willey
  • Timmy the Cruel
  • Hearthsinger Forresten
  • The Unforgiven
  • Skul
  • The Stratholme Courier
• Triggered Boss
  • Fras Siabi
    • Opening up his tobacco box for the quest.
  • Crimson Hammersmith
    • Clicking on a parchment named "Blacksmith Plans" will trigger the Hammersmith. The plans can appear in at least 2 known locations:
      1. On the floor in the Hoard area before Cannonmaster Willey
      2. On a bench in the alcoves occupied by Archivist Galford

Quests

• Template:Questnotb This is part eight of a ten part quest chain started by Tirion Fordring on the banks of the Thondroril River in the Eastern Plaguelands. Look for the painting in the room with Archivist Galford.
• Template:Questnotb Stand alone quest given by Smokey LaRue in Light's Hope Chapel in the Eastern Plaguelands.
• Template:Questnotb Given by Duke Nicholas Zverenhoff in Light's Hope Chapel in the Eastern Plaguelands.
  • Template:Questnotb After you've turned in the quest to kill Archivist Galford, Balnazzar will drop his head when he is killed, starting this quest.

Undead Side

The Slaughterhouse - Where Baron Rivendare dwells

* Also known as: BD Strat, Undead Strath, Deadside, Scourge Strath, Baron side, UD Strath, Baron Run, Strat UD, East Strat, Strat Dead

• Enemy Level Range: 55–62
• End Boss: Baron Rivendare
• Mini Bosses:
  • Balzaphon (new with patch 1.11; will disappear when Scourge Invasion ends)
  • Magistrate Barthilas (drops key to Scourge side)
  • Baroness Anastari
  • Nerub'enkan
  • Maleki the Pallid
  • Ramstein the Gorger
  • Stonespine
• Triggered Boss
  • Postmaster Malown
    • Opening up various mailboxes with their corresponding keys.
  • 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.
• Also contains the originally planned entrance Necropolis Naxxramas.

Quests

• Template:Questnotb Given by Caretaker Alen in Light's Hope Chapel, this is outside of the instance and can be done solo.
  • Template:Questnotb Given by Egan in Terrordale, enters Stratholme.
• Template:Questnotb To activate this quest, you need to have collected a  [Medallion of Faith] from the strongbox behind Malor the Zealous on the Scarlet Side. Give this Medallion to Aurius in the chapel at the beginning of the Undead side. When you fight Baron Rivendare, Aurius will appear and help you in the fight. Once the battle is over, you'll be able to chose your reward.
• Template:Questnotb This is part of a chain of quests that begins in Scholomance with Doctor Theolen Krastinov, the Butcher. Once Baron Rivendare is dead, use the item in the symbol on the floor.
• Template:Questnotb Given by Betina Bigglezink in Light's Hope Chapel. A simple collection quest. Almost any enemy in Undead Strat will drop the plagued flesh samples.
  • Template:Questnotb This is the follow-up to The Flesh Does Not Lie. The reward upgrades your  [Argent Dawn Commission] to offer you combat bonuses in addition to allowing the collection of Scourgestones.
• Template:Questnotb This is a follow-up to The Truth Comes Crashing Down. It simply requires you to kill Baron Rivendare.
• Template:Questnotb Given by Leonid Barthalomew the Revered in Light's Hope Chapel. This requires you to pick up  [Stratholme Holy Water], which is in crates around around the instance. Some crates are corrupted and will contain rats or maggots instead, which you will have to kill. If you have a dwarf in the group, they can use the Treasure Finding racial ability to determine which crates are not corrupted.
• Template:Questnotb This quest becomes available from Nathanos Blightcaller after completing his first two sets of quests. You must kill the abomination Ramstein, who comes out of the slaughterhouse just before you fight Baron Rivendare. Loot the Head of Ramstein the Gorger from his body and hand it in to Nathanos.
• Template:Questnotb Given by Anthion Harmon just outside the instance, although you must have the  [Extra-Dimensional Ghost Revealer] to interact with him. This step in the quests for the Dungeon Set 2 upgrades requires you to engage Baron Rivendare in 45 minutes. See the Baron in 45 guide. There is also a graphic map displaying what and where to pull to reach the baron using the least possible time.