Lordaeron

Lordaeron is the northernmost subcontinent of the Eastern Kingdoms. The same name was used for a former human kingdom, the Kingdom of Lordaeron (aka Lordaeron Empire) which dominated most of the subcontinent up until its fall in the Third War. The name Lordaeron comes from the three main Alliance race languages: "lorn" (in Dwarven) that means "land", "daer" (in Common) that means "people" and "ronae" (in Thalassian) that means peaceful. The former kingdom's capital, usually referred to as Capital City, was also formally called Lordaeron City.

Separated from Khaz Modan by a narrow strait, the subcontinent of Lordaeron stretches from the Arathi Highlands in the south to the Thalassian Eversong Woods in the far north. Historically, the subcontinent has been populated by humans in the northern, western and southern regions, trolls in the eastern regions; the Hinterlands and Zul'Aman and high elves in the far-northern Quel'Thalas. After the recent events of the Third War and the War against the Lich King, however, the vast majority of the human population has turned undead, and the high elves are now mostly known as Blood Elves.

The climate of Lordaeron is moderate, although the land is rugged and largely mountainous in and around the Hinterlands, Alterac and Arathi Highlands. The southern, northern and western regions of Hillsbrad, Gilneas and Tirisfal are characterised by mild forests and farmlands whereas the north-eastern region of Zul'Aman is covered by a thick and wild forest.

Originally one of the Seven Kingdoms to emerge during the collapse of Arathor, the Kingdom of Lordaeron was ruled by the House of Menethil and provided refuge for the people of Stormwind following that kingdom's destruction at the end of the First War. During the Second War, Lordaeron spearheaded the first Alliance's campaign against the Orcish Horde, but was almost entirely consumed by the Scourge during the Third War.

This former nation's territory is now contested between the Scourge, the Forsaken, and fragmented pockets of human resistance, most notably the Scarlet Crusade and the Argent Dawn.