A fan asked Blizzard when Gilneas will be released. This is a topic that comes up very often and has become of utmost interest to fans who have followed on Warcraft lore, or that simply become curious of what is behind that huge gate south of Silverpine Forest.
To this, Bornakk replied the following:
| Bornakk: At this time, the nation of Gilneas which stands behind the Greymane Wall remains a secluded mystery. One day we may see the portcullis and the region open to visitors and explorers alike, but we do not know when or if that day will come. |
To fans who haven’t played previous games or read the Warcraft novels, Gilneas was one of the seven kingdoms of Lordaeron. Below is a short summary as a recap of Gilneas’ history. It may be inaccurate since I am writing by memory, from different sources: I played Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness, read Warcraft: Day of the Dragon and Warcraft RPG: Lands of Conflict.
At first, Gilneas had refused to join the Alliance. This pride-standing wouldn’t last long however. In Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness (RTS-game), the Old Horde under the command of Orgrim Doomhammer assaulted Zul’Dare isle and established an outpost there. Zul’Dare isle belongs to Gilneas at this point. The death and destruction inflicted by the Horde in the area drove Gilneas to seek protection from the Alliance, fearing a direct assault on Gilneas itself. Gilneas peninsula has high cliffs on the west, south and east that protect it from naval attacks, but vulnerable to ground attack from the north.
Lord Genn Greymane joined the Alliance out of necessity and convenience, but did not offer militar support. Lord Genn Greymane presented to King Terenas and the Alliance council in Lordaeron City a refugee from Alterac sheltered in Gilneas, named Lord Prestor (Deathwing in disguise). This man clad in black armor claimed to be the rightful heir to the throne of Alterac, after the deposing of Lord Perenolde – who betrayed the Alliance by giving tactical info and manpower support to the Horde in exchange of sparing their lifes.
The Alliance defeated the Horde in several fronts such as Blackrock Spire, Zul’Dare, Quel’Thalas, Tyr’s Hand, and Grim Batol among other locations. The Alliance built orc internment camps such at the ones in Dalaran, Durnholde in Hillsbrad Foothills and Hammerfall in Arathi Highlands (The Second War ends at year 6). This caused King Terenas to lift taxes upon the seven kingdoms of Lordaeron to to mantain the orc internment camps.
This drove Lord Genn Greymane to retreat his membership from the Alliance under the excuse that Gilneas won’t support paying taxes to feed the captured orcs who deserved death. It was at this moment, that the Greymane Wall started to be built, to isolate itself from the nations of the Alliance.
Fans who haven’t read the Warcraft novels and Warcraft RPG Books (from White Wolf Publishing) wrongly think that the Greymane Wall was built to fence off the Undead Scourge invasion. This is incorrect. The Greymane Wall has been there for 20 years (between year 6-10). The Undead Scourge invasion to Lordaeron started in Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos when Kel’Thuzad brought the plague to Andorhal – the main Lordaeron grain supply hub (year 25). And that happened barely 5 years before World of Warcraft.
Last Known Speech from Genn Greymane, Recorded by Mystrum Runedance
| Lord Genn Greymane: “Damn the orcs, damn the Alliance, and damn you! The last thing Gilneas needs is sponges from other nations drawing from our resources, Dalaran wizards meddling with our affairs, and someone else’s enemies killing our soldiers! Gilneas is its own nation and it always will be. This is the last time I’ll ever talk to you, Terenas, so I hope you were listening.”—from Warcraft RPG: Lands of Conflict, page 96 |
