Grizzly Hills » Zones » WoW Armory Light

The Grizzly Hills, located in south-eastern Northrend, is the home ground of the Grizzlemaw furbolgs, but that hasn't stopped all kinds of other groups from fighting the bears for their own place on the land — the Iron Dwarves have built a settlement in Thor Modan in the north, while the Drakkari Trolls take places whereever they can, holding just a few ruins. Their former stronghold, Drak'Tharon Keep, has fallen to the Scourge, but both Alliance and Horde have made headway here with their own settlements. Finally, the Hills are home to a few old friends — Wendigo and Sasquatch roam the area, while darker threats like The Venture Company and even rumors of an Old God also are to be found here

It is similar to other forests during wintertime, except that winter here is year-round. The trees are tall and thick, the pine needles and crisp, clean air produce a pleasant scent, the snow leaves the ground clean and fresh, and the hills themselves are high enough for decent elevation but low enough and gradual enough to be easily climbed. It’s one of the nicest regions in Northrend. Dwarves live here at Thor Modan, but they aren’t the only residents. Furbolgs dominate the region, and they make fine neighbours when they’re not attacking. Over 20,000 furbolgs live in the Grizzly Hills, almost half of them in the large settlement of Grizzlemaw.

The Scourge has a presence here as well, but not strong enough to do much more than block the northwest corner. Wild animals roam the hills, providing plenty of meat and fur and entertainment. It’s not an easy land by any stretch, but it’s handsome and fierce and full of life.

History

The furbolgs claim they were the first people in these hills. So do the Drakkari ice trolls, though they’re concentrated to the north in Zul’Drak. They may both be wrong. Another theory is that dwarves were here first. It is believed that Titans placed dwarves here, after they’d created them. It was an experiment to see if they could survive on their own. They not only survived but flourished, spreading southward and into what would later become Kalimdor and the other continents. The dwarves of Thor Modan believe they can find evidence of the dwarves ancestors in the hills, and uncover truths about their race’s early culture. Regardless, all this was well before any surviving history.

This region is the furbolg homeland, and they outnumber every other race here combined. They are massive bear-men, enormous creatures with a bear’s build and fur and basic features, but a man’s hands and, to a limited extent, mind. That’s a dangerous combination, and they’re powerful in a fight. Fortunately they’re not aggressive beyond their own territory. The dwarves at Thor Modan have run-ins with furbolgs on a regular basis, since the furbolgs feel the dwarves are trespassers and grave-robbers. Furbolgs are surprisingly friendly to travelers, though, and greeted them warmly once they are assured that they laid no claim to anything in the hills. They’re less approving of large groups, and particularly wary of strange races, but their caution can't be blamed. The furbolgs have a city here, Grizzlemaw, but it holds less than half their number. The rest are gathered in clans and scattered throughout the region. Each clan has its own totem, and when one sees one he knows he's entered Snowspring territory or Winterpaw land or Snow Flurry hunting grounds or any of the others. It’s best to for a person to declare himself openly once a person sees the totem, since a furbolg may be watching and won’t appreciate the person trying to sneak past.

Geography

The Grizzly Hills are as hilly as the name suggests. Along the northern edges the land gains height and depth, approaching the level of small mountain ranges, while it flattens out a little in the south. Thick forest covers the land from end to end, broken only by small clearings or the space alongside one of the many streams and small rivers. Snow is everywhere but the region has little ice — the wind whistles overhead but the trees block it from entering down below, and the hills seem almost warm compared to the Dragonblight and the Borean Tundra. It’s still dangerous, with treacherous slopes and hidden caves and partially frozen rivers, but better than most of the other regions. All manner of wild animals live in the area, and the hills are full of life. Wolves, bears, foxes, rabbits and some small deer are the most common. Wendigo and sasquatch prowl the hills, so it’s best not to go out alone. The Drakkari live just north in Zul’Drak and sometimes their hunters venture down to the hills as well, in search of prey.

Dungeons

Drak'Tharon Keep, Level 74-76

Quests

There are several quest chains in Grizzly Hills. The Alliance start out at Amberpine Lodge and are first tasked with taking care of the wildlife and restocking supplies. Players are then ordered to strike up an alliance with the local hunters and trappers based out of Silverbrook, who have a dark secret. Having figured out the situation, players are then sent to figure out what went wrong with Vordrassil, the failed World Tree, and other problems at the Westfall Brigade Encampment.

Both sides find their way to Granite Springs to deal with the Scourge-infested trolls in the area, in quest chains that send players to Drak'Tharon Keep and to the far eastern side of Grizzly Hills at the Drakil'jin Ruins and the Squatter's Camp.