The Searing Gorge is a contested zone in
the Eastern Kingdoms for players in the 40-60 range. It is home to a group of
exceptionally stout dwarves called the Thorium Brotherhood, who have split from
the Dark Iron Clan. Except for them, the Dark Iron Clan have 2000+ dwarves in
the gorge working on various things and also keeping a watching eye on the
Thorium Brotherhood.
For the Alliance, the entrance to the
Searing Gorge in Loch Modan is locked until the Key to Searing Gorge is
obtained via a quest line that culminates in At Last! (Level 48 quest).
However, any Rogue with lockpicking of at least 225 can pick the doors. An
alternate path can be found in the Badlands just south of Kargath. This is the
primary Horde entrance, as they have no way of obtaining the key.
History
Just as Blackrock orcs and their allies
dominate Burning Steppes, so Dark Iron dwarves dominate the Searing Gorge. A
large population of Dark Iron dwarves, War Golems, and Elementals resides in
this dark, mountainous area.
The climate is very similar to Burning
Steppes, as it was the same catastrophe that blackened both: the summoning of
Ragnaros. The Searing Gorge is a part of Khaz Modan. Before being shattered by
the summoning it was a mountainous region, part of the Redridge Mountains.
Large mining operations take place in The
Cauldron, a giant excavation site forming a huge rift in the middle of the
Searing Gorge. The Slag Pit lies within The Cauldron and is an underground
mining site rich with multiple types of ore. The mining work is mainly done by
slave labour, which consists for the most part of captured enemies.
Ever since the Dark Iron dwarves' capital,
Thaurissan, was destroyed by the summoning of Ragnaros, they have searched for
a landmass to control for their filthy, industrious works. The Searing Gorge
was the obvious choice due to a low military presence, scarce population, few
settlements, and high vulnerability. The dwarven garrisons were soon overrun by
a massive Dark Iron invasion which forced them to retreat to Loch Modan and
seal the passage.
This area was normally sealed, and
adventurers could only enter by traversing through Blackrock Mountain or by
obtaining the Key to Searing Gorge, which follows a series of quests. Recently,
however, the Horde garrisons stationed at Kargath, in the Badlands, have grown
curious about the use of the area for tactical purposes, and have cut a narrow
pass through the mountains south of their encampment.
Recently, the Thorium Brotherhood built a
settlement in this area called Thorium Point.
Dungeons
and raids
There are none actually located in the
Searing Gorge. However, Blackrock Mountain lies between it and the Burning
Steppes. It is home to Blackrock Depths (Level 52-60 Instance), Blackrock Spire
(Level 54-60 Instance), Molten Core (Level 60 Raid Instance), and Blackwing
Lair (Level 60 Raid Instance).
Notable
characters
Searing Gorge is home to several characters
of note. At Thorium Point, Hansel Heavyhands seeks aid in the battle against
the golems, spiders, and incendosaurs of the region. Master Smith Burninate
attempts to create fiery flux with the help of trustworthy individuals. And
from his guarded spot nearby, Kalaran Windblade sends bold adventurers into the
holdings of the Dark Irons in an attempt to burn down all of their sentry
towers.
Cataclysm
The Searing Gorge will be a 48-50 zone in
Cataclysm. The storyline covers the Dark Irons' involvement with the Twilight's
Hammer.
Areas affected:
Badlands border - a new camp has been
established by the Thorium Brotherhood called Thorium Advance
Blackrock Mountain – northeast of Blackrock
is a new neutral encampment, Iron Summit, headed by a dwarf whose allegiances
are questionable, to say the least; the camp of Nilith Lokrav is now populated
by Dark Iron dwarves
Dustfire Valley - the camp formerly run by
Dark Iron dwarves has been abandoned
Kalaran's camp, near Thorium Point, is now
home to the Dark Irons
Tanner Camp - now empty
The Slag Pit - the lowest reaches are now
inhabited by Searing Flamewraiths led by a level 50 elite flamewaker, Archduke
Calcinder
Magma Elementals are new mobs added to the
area; Incendosaurs now live above ground, in and around the new camp of Iron
Summit (see above)
Other – the area between Searing Gorge and
Dun Morogh is now a deep chasm; the wandering Shadowsilk Poachers of the
Undermarket don't appear to roam through the gorge any longer.
Resources
Herbs
Firebloom
Ore
Silver Vein
Iron Deposit
Gold Vein
Mithril Deposit
Truesilver Deposit
Dark Iron Deposit (One of the few regions
where you can gather it)
Small Thorium Vein
Wild
creatures
Fire elementals
Golems
Incendosaurs
Lava elementals
Nightmares
Spiders
Thunder lizards
Notes
Players taking the flight to Ironforge from
Stormwind can observe many subzones of this area.
If you were to die in one of the Blackrock
Mountain Instances, it would take you to the Thorium Point Graveyard. This is
another handy way of getting in. It is convenient as it is not far from the
Flight Point
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