Alterac Syndicate

The Syndicate is a criminal organization led by some of the more villainous nobles of the defunct Kingdom of Alterac. They are based within the town of Strahnbrad and operate within the mountains as well as the Arathi Highlands, and used to have several encampments within the region of Hillsbrad.

History
The Syndicate's history goes back to the Second War, during which the seven human kingdoms of Azeroth, Lordaeron, Stromgarde, Dalaran, Kul Tiras, Gilneas and Alterac formed the Alliance of Lordaeron to fight back the hordes of invading orcs. However, Lord Aiden Perenolde of Alterac, along with many nobles of the kingdom, thought the orcs would win the war, and secretly worked against the other kingdoms.

But when the Alliance won, Alterac's treachery was discovered, and Stromgarde sent its army to destroy Alterac, and Perenolde and his followers were exiled. The few orcs that survived being put in internment camps did not wish to help them, and so they were forced to steal in order to survive. The former nobles banded together, and led by Perenolde, started calling themselves the Syndicate. In time, other thieves and bandits joined them. One of Aiden's most brilliant strokes of genius was breaking up the bandit gangs who joined up so as to prevent them to conspire against them.

While their original goal was to spread chaos and disorder, the Third War made the leaders see that they had a chance to restore Alterac. They've gained several outposts, including the town of Strahnbrad and the fortress of Durnholde Keep, along with large sections of the city of Stromgarde.

When Aiden was captured, his son Aliden took over in his stead, leading the Syndicate from the Dandred's Fold along the coast of the Lordamere Lake. Aliden led the Syndicate until his death at the hands of agents of the Warchief, Thrall.

Following the Cataclysm, the Forsaken took the ruins of Durnholde Keep from the Syndicate while the Stormpike Clan forced them out of the cliffs overlooking the foothills.