Stratholme (Classic)

Stratholme

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Main Gate
Skul (rare) Stratholme Courier Fras Siabi Hearthsinger Forresten (rare) The Unforgiven Timmy the Cruel Commander Malor Risen Hammersmith Willey Hopebreaker Instructor Galford Balnazzar	(lore) (lore) (lore) (lore) (lore) (lore) (lore) (lore) (lore) (lore) (lore)
Service Entrance
Postmaster Malown Black Guard Swordsmith Baroness Anastari Stonespine (rare) Nerub'enkan Maleki the Pallid Magistrate Barthilas Ramstein the Gorger Lord Aurius Rivendare	(lore) (lore) (lore) (lore) (lore) (lore) (lore) (lore) (lore)
NPCs
Crusade Commander Eligor Dawnbringer Master Craftsman Wilhelm Packmaster Stonebruiser Crusade Commander Korfax Archmage Angela Dosantos Argent Flight Commander Vahdat
Loot

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.

It is interesting to note that there is a Raid Instance portal at the end of the instance, outside the building in which baron Rivendare resides. This cannot lead to Naxxramas, as it is floating above the city. There are ruined flags carrying the insignia of Lordaeron inside the tunnel, which are not seen anywhere else inside Stratholme.

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 the 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 overlord 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 which corrupts all of the Eastern Plaguelands comes from the city. Leading Scourge forces in the city below is a death knight known as Baron Rivendare, the 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 in Azeroth outside of Northrend. 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

The streets of 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 or "Live Side", which goes from the main entrance into the Scarlet Crusade-controlled citadel, and Scourge Side or "Undead Side", which can also be accessed from the main entrance, but more commonly through the Service Entrance (which requires a key or Lockpicking 275) to the 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
  • Cannon Master 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 Cannon Master Willey
      2. On a bench in the alcoves occupied by Archivist Galford

Quests

•  [60] The Restless Souls (Part 1) Given by Caretaker Alen in Light's Hope Chapel, this is outside of the instance and can be done solo.
  •  [60D] The Restless Souls (Part 2) Given by Egan in Terrordale, enters Stratholme.
•  [60D] Of Love and Family 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.
•  [60D] The Great Fras Siabi Stand alone quest given by Smokey LaRue in Light's Hope Chapel in the Eastern Plaguelands.
•  [60D] The Archivist Given by Duke Nicholas Zverenhoff in Light's Hope Chapel in the Eastern Plaguelands.
  •  [60D] The Truth Comes Crashing Down 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 Strat, Deadside, Scourge Strat, Baron side, UD Strat, 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 (Rare Spawn)
• 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.

Other Enemies

• Skeletal Guardian (non-elite)
• Thuzadin Necromancer
• Thuzadin Shadowcaster

Quests

•  [60] The Medallion of Faith 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.

•  [60D] Doctor Theolen Krastinov, the Butcher Given by Eva Sarkhoff in Caer Darrow in the Western Plaguelands, takes you into the Scholomance.
  •  [60D] Krastinov's Bag of Horrors
    •  [60D] Kirtonos the Herald Upon completing this quest you will recieve the  [Spectral Essence], a trinket that allows you to speak with the ghosts at Caer Darrow. This offers several benefits, including the ability to purchase the recipe for Major Mana Potions, and the continuation of the quest chain.
      •  [60+] The Human, Ras Frostwhisper Given by Magistrate Marduke in Caer Darrow in the Western Plaguelands, takes you to Stromgarde in the Arathi Highlands.
        •  [60+] The Dying, Ras Frostwhisper Takes you to Light's Hope Chapel in the Eastern Plaguelands.
          •  [60D] Menethil's Gift (Part 1) Given by Leonid Barthalomew the Revered, enters Stratholme. Once Baron Rivendare is dead, use the item in the symbol on the floor.
            •  [60+] Menethil's Gift (Part 2) Back to Barthalomew.
              •  [60+] Soulbound Keepsake Back to Marduke.
                •  [60D] The Lich, Ras Frostwhisper Back into the Scholomance.

•  [60D] The Flesh Does Not Lie Given by Betina Bigglezink in Light's Hope Chapel. A simple collection quest. Almost any enemy in Undead Strat, and most undead on the scarlet side will drop the plagued flesh samples.
  •  [60D] The Active Agent 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.
•  [60D] Above and Beyond This is a follow-up to The Truth Comes Crashing Down. It simply requires you to kill Baron Rivendare.
•  [60D] Houses of the Holy 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 both sides of the instance. Most 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.
•  [60D] Ramstein 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.
•  [60D] True Masters of the Light(3) - Given by Lady Liadrin in Silvermoon's Farstriders' Square, this quest is the last of the Blood Charger questline. Travel to the Alonsus Chapel and extinguish the eternal flame there. You must defeat Aurius and five ghostly paladins.
•  [60D] Dead Man's Plea 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.

Humor

An increasingly popular joke is the fact of Stratholme's fires, that in fact if they started when Arthas massacred the place, Stratholme would be burnt to the ground. Also if you look at Stratholme from outside the actual instance, you don't see any smoke or fire. The city just looks like regular ruins.