Ironforge

For the faction, see Ironforge (faction).

For the kingdom, see Kingdom of Ironforge.

Ironforge
Type	Capital
Races	Ironforge dwarf  Wildhammer dwarf  Dark Iron dwarf  Gnome  Human
Government	Senate of Ironforge
Rulers	Council of Three Hammers  Muradin Bronzebeard  Moira Thaurissan  Falstad Wildhammer
Languages	Dwarven, Gnomish, Common, Low Common
Faiths	Holy Light, Mystery of the Makers, Shamanism, Demonology
Resources	Minerals, metalwork, phlogiston, technology, timber
Affiliation	Alliance
Location	Northern Dun Morogh
Sources: World of Warcraft

Ironforge is the capital city of the dwarves, a member of the Alliance. It is the ancestral home of the Bronzebeard dwarves. The Council of Three Hammers rules the kingdom of Khaz Modan from the throne room within the city.

The city is perhaps the most intricate of the Alliance cities, boasting many small passageways, shops built into the rock walls, and cavernous rooms. The feel of the city is a bustling, rowdy, and somewhat industrial one, however, it is predominantly safe-feeling and cozy; fires roar in the hearths of the inns and shops, and much dwarven laughing and frivolity is to be heard. Also, unlike Stormwind and Darnassus, the city is actually a massive cavern carved into the earth by the dwarves; the ceiling and floor are both hard stone. This gives the place a sanctuary-like feel.

Mainly because of the Deeprun Tram, linking Ironforge and Stormwind City, and the district of Tinker Town, Ironforge is one of the most racially diverse cities in the Alliance world. Dwarves predominate, of course, but you will find plenty of gnomes even outside of Tinker Town, and probably as many humans. This is true for player characters as well as non-player characters, since Ironforge is in the heart of the Alliance world. You will find almost no night elves, however, as they have long since set themselves apart from the other races.

The collective frivolity of the place, the bustling and gruff manner of the dwarves, and the proximity to many quest and raid areas have historically made Ironforge, along with Stormwind City, a popular place to idle.

History

The Front Gates

Ironforge exterior

Ironforge is the ancient home of the dwarves. It was once ruled by the High King Modimus Anvilmar, who left no heir upon his death, eventually leading to the War of the Three Hammers. Before the war, when the Dark Iron clan was banished from the city, Ironforge was the commercial and social center of all the dwarven clans. It is was previously home only to the Bronzebeard Clan.

Many dwarven strongholds fell during the Second War between the Horde and the Alliance of Lordaeron, but the mighty city of Ironforge, nestled in the wintry peaks of Dun Morogh and protected by its great gates, was never breached by the invading Horde.

A marvel to the dwarves' skill at shaping rock and stone, Ironforge was constructed in the very heart of the mountains, an expansive underground city home to explorers, miners, and warriors. Massive doors of rock protect the city in times of war, and lava from the mountain itself is redirected and distributed for heat, energy and smithing purposes.

Following the civil unrest amongst the Dwarves, the Bronzebeard clan emerged victorious. For the following years after the war King Magni Bronzebeard could be found in the High Seat, as the Dwarven leader of Ironforge. However, in recent times King Magni Bronzebeard had fallen ill to a Titanic curse. This left Ironforge in a state of unrest, but soon the paticipants of the War of the Three Hammers returned to Ironforge, to establish the Council of Three Hammers, with representatives from each of the clans, consisting of Moira Thaurissan, Falstad Wildhammer and Muradin Bronzebeard. Together, they have set aside their differences in order to rule the Dwarven city of Ironforge.

Wards

Ironforge map (in-game)

Ironforge is structurally a giant circle of sections, it also contains several "depth" levels (at least eight, though they are not accessible in game). The accessible portions of Ironforge appear to be located on the 5th level, the "fifth depth" of the city.

• The main depth
  • The Commons (just beyond the gates)
    • Gates of Ironforge (the entrance to the city)
    • Vault of Ironforge (the Ironforge bank)
  • The Great Forge (in the very molten heart of the city)
    • The High Seat (the throne room)
  • The Mystic Ward (north from the Commons)
    • Hall of Mysteries (Mage/Paladin/Priest guild)
  • The Military Ward (east from the Commons)
    • Hall of Arms (Hunter/Warrior guild)
  • The Forlorn Cavern (between the Mystic Ward and the Hall of Explorers)
  • Hall of Explorers (beyond the Great Forge)
    • The Library (quest base within the Hall of Explorers)
      • The Museum (exhibition and quest base within the Hall of Explorers)
  • Tinker Town (between the Military Ward and the Hall of Explorers)
    • Deeprun Tram (accessible from Tinker Town)
• Hall of Thanes (Old Ironforge) (left door by throne room entrance)

This section concerns content exclusive to the Warcraft RPG and is considered non-canon.

• The sixth depth - The sixth level of city of Ironforge, just above the hotel and market districts. (Not accessible in-game.)
• The seventh depth
  • The Market - The market is located in the seventh level of Ironforge. (Not accessible in game.)
  • Hotel District - It is the district apparently in the seventh level of Ironforge, containing lodging for visitors to Ironforge. (Not accessible in game.)
• The eighth depth - The eighth level of the city of Ironforge, just below the hotel and market districts. (Not accessible in-game.)
• It can be assumed that the fourth through first depths lie above the fifth depth, and lead to the surface of Ironforge mountain and likely lead to the exit leading to Ironforge Airfield.

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  Ironforge map (WoW manual)

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  Ironforge map (Lands of Conflict)

Notable Characters

Main article: Ironforge NPCs

The Council of Three Hammers rules Ironforge from the High Seat at the heart of the city, with the support of their two highest-ranking advisers, Royal Historian Archesonus and Senator Barin Redstone. High Tinker Mekkatorque, the leader of the gnomish exiles from Gnomeregan, plays a role in the gnome starting experiance. High Explorer Magellas, the leader of the Explorers' League, leads the dwarves' effort to uncover the mysteries of their past from the Hall of Explorers.

Quests

See Category:Ironforge quests.

Points of Interest

Ironforge in World of Warcraft: The Comic.

Ironforge in World of Warcraft: Ashbringer.

• The Auction House, located at the outer edge of the Commons between the front gates.
• The Bank, located at the inner edge of the Commons just across from the Auction House.
• The Gryphon master, located at the inner eastern part of the edge of the Great Forge.
• The city hall is located in the eastern end of the Commons.
• There are four mailboxes: two in the Commons - one outside the bank, the other outside the inn; another in Tinker Town at the entrance to the Deeprun Tram; and the last at the tavern on the edge of the Military Ward near Tinker Town.
• The Deeprun Tram, created by the gnomes, runs from Ironforge to Stormwind. It is free and located near Tinker Town.

Travel connections

Flight

Stormwind City

Chillwind Camp

Aerie Peak

Refuge Pointe

Southshore

Menethil Harbor

Thelsamar

Sun's Reach

Light's Hope Chapel

Thorium Point

Tram

Stormwind City

Notes

• The Deeprun Tram is a Gnomish service which runs from Ironforge to Stormwind. It can be accessed from Tinker Town (see City Sections, below).
• A good way to get Ironforge reputation is to do the battle quests in Alterac Valley. Turning in one item gives 10 reputation points, with a possible 100 points per drop. This is in addition to the honor and Alterac Valley reputation points.

Trivia

• "Iron forge" was a cheat code in the original Warcraft which updated all technology instantly.
• According to Thinking with Portals - A Memorandum on Proper Portal Usage, a book that can be found in Dalaran, Ironforge was flooded in 24 AD with water from Lakeshire when a mage removed the liquid filter from a mage portal.
• Although similar to the current version, Ironforge's layout was a lot bigger in the alpha-version of the game. It consisted of multiple levels connected by bridges and stairs, two elevators (one to reach Old Ironforge, the other to reach the Deeprun Tram), an additional destination for the Deeprun Tram other than Stormwind, and a forge looking more like a power-generator than a foundry. Rumor has it there even was an elevator to the Dun Morogh airfield.
• Before the addition of auction houses in all capital cities, Ironforge was the central hub of Alliance activity. As a result of so many players in one concentrated area, the city was often referred to as "Lagforge" because of the increase in latency and decrease in framerates. Since the addition of linked auction houses in all capital cities, and the fact that Stormwind is located closer to the Dark Portal and has quicker access to Northrend, Ironforge has become much more user friendly.

Patch changes

• Patch 1.3.0 (2005-03-07):
  • Patrolling scouts that can see through stealth and invisibility have been added to Ironforge.
  • You can now design guild tabards in Ironforge.
    

Gallery

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  The Great Forge

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  Finespindle's Leather Goods

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  From the World of Warcraft style guide, this concept piece provides a scenic look at Ironforge.