The Stonemason Riots was a riot instigated by the angered Stonemason's Guild members under Edwin VanCleef after the reconstruction of Stormwind City. After the Stormwind House of Nobles refused to pay the masons for their work, they took to the streets in a chain of events that led to the death of Queen Tiffin Wrynn, killed by a rock thrown during the riots. Ironically, Queen Tiffin was amongst those who pleaded for the Stonemasons to be paid fairly for their work.
After the events of the riots, most of the Stonemasons left Stormwind with VanCleef, forming the Defias Brotherhood.