Darkdour

Darkdour was a large Gilnean city that was situated in Northern Headlands of Gilneas. Before the Greymane Wall was built, Darkdour was a fairly large and prosperous region. Because of the way Darkdour was built, the Greymane Wall was built right through it, seperating the city into Northern Darkdour and Southern Darkdour. Originally, Darkdour was considered a "free man's town", because it was not under the governing power of any lords.

History
Darkdour was built by Lordaeronian travelers who had discovered the area whilst sailing into Keel Harbor. It took numerous years to build the small village, mostly because there were no lords who would help fund the project. Finally complete in 465 K.C., Darkdour soon thrived as a primarily agricultural town. It also became a mecca for travelers heading into Gilneas, and soon the small town had grown into a rather large city. With no lord to reside over the growing new settlement, the original settlers decided they would form a council like goverment, and under which the city thrived for numerous decades.

Neighboring Troubles
The lords of Gilneas could not ignore the prospering city forever, though. It was only a matter of time before the House of Jadence, an incredibly large family that had holdings all over the kingdom and was growing rapidly, fell upon the city. The townspeople of Darkdour could do nothing to stop the house's knights as they swarmed over the city, taking it over by nightfall. The people's goverment was thrown out, and the House of Jadence took over. Nonetheless, darkdour thrived under their government and expanded ever more.

First Siege of Darkdour
While the House of Jadence was powerful, they had enemies. Darkdour was a perfect target; it was at the northern tip of Gilneas, in an unforgiving area and far away from the House of Jadence's other holdings. House Fangston, a smaller house of worse repute, was particurlarly interested. In 495 K.C., they mounted a large offensive in an attempt to not just take over Darkdour; but to destroy it. They were partially sucessful, as they were able to get as far as the Town's Square before a defensive manuever stopped them. The two forces stood across from eachother in the square, eyeing eachother over as the scared townspeople stood gawking in their homes. Lord Jadence and Lord Fangston faced off, eventually leading Lord Fangston's demise. Demoralized, Fangston's forces retreated as Lord Jadence and his men cut them down from behind. It was a brutal battle, and one the townsfolk would never forget.

Construction & Expansion
After Lord Fangston's army retreated back to their small holding in the east, it was time to rebuild what was lost. Most of the labor was done by the townsfolk themslves, which did not go over well. Small rebelions broke out all through the city, requiring more soldiers and more funding. While the Jadence House was loosing grip on the town, other houses began to attack and sabatoge the other settlements they held. Over the course of seventy years, the House of Jadence slowly withdrew their presence within the city. Darkdour was once again free, but there was still a lot of work to do. Banding together, the people of Darkdour were able to construct new buildings and rebuild the damaged and destroyed ones. At last, in 572 K.C., it seemed life would go back to normal.

Second Siege of Darkdour
In 593 K.C., it was apparent that Darkdour would be coming under some serious attacks. Tanaarch Broderick, a Gilnean Army Captain and proclaimed hero of the Blackwald, began to expand his holdings. Reletively unpowerful, Tanaarch knew Darkdour was the perfect target for him to lay claim. He slowly started establishing a military presense within the city, promising the people protection and gaining minor public support. Confronted by Darkdour's governing council, Tanaarch knew he would have to take it by force. Tanaarch mustered all the military power he could, easily breaking past the city's guard and planting his house banner in the town square. In a legal battle, the Court of Greymane awarded Tanaarch the city of Darkdour, and so he began to take control.

Building of the Greymane Wall
It was around 600 K.C. that talk of the building of the Greymane Wall began to spread. Tanaarch was not too worried, and nor was the city - it was thought the wall would be built around the city. It was only after the official draft had been made that the city realized they would be split in half. Tanaarch ordered that those on the northern side of the city move to the southern side, so they may be under the protection of the immense wall. But many of the townspeople feverishly disagreed with Genn Greymane, and so in a sort of passive rebellion, they stayed. The part of Darkdour on the northern side of the wall was collectively called North Darkdour, while the part on south was called South Darkdour.

Northern Darkdour
When the Greymane Wall sliced through the city of Darkdour, the northern half was cut off from Gilneas and deemed Northern Darkdour. Places like the tavern, inn and forge were in South Darkdour, meaning the townspeople had to rebuild them. With many years of continious effort and labor, they were able to.

Culture
The people of North Darkdour didn't have the protection of Gilneas anymore, they were on their own. So they began to arm themselves, preparing for the worst but hoping for the best. The vast majority of the threats came from the ravenous animals of the untamed wild, but soon the people of North Darkdour were able to defend themselves well, and soon they were adapted to lifestyle outside the wall.

Scourge
As Lordaeron began to stir alive with the undead, North Darkdour started to ramp up their defenses. They were hopelessly outnumbered though, and their screams could be heard across the wall, in South Darkdour, as the scourge ravaged their homes. Today, North Darkdour sits abandoned in Silverpine Forest, the last vestiges of humanity in the area having been gone for a decade.

South Darkdour
While the neighboring town of North Darkdour began to stake out on its own, South Darkdour remained quite the same for years. It was expanded shortly after the Greymane Wall was built to accomodate those that had chosen to leave northern Darkdour, and soon had its own standing militia, seperate from that of House Broderick.

Worgen Curse
The Worgen Curse affected thousands of the citizens of Gilneas, and South Darkdour was no exception. The city held its own for a fair amount of time against the curse, however, up until the Forsaken began to intrude. The evacuation of the kingdom was eminent, and so the city was abandoned as it was. It would later be discovered that South Darkdour was virtually untouched by the forsaken, the exception being a few buildings.