Whenever players visit the Undercity, they typically pass through the ruined royal palace on their way below ground. The surface area, once the heart of Lordaeron, served as little more than a quick waypoint, while the Forsaken led by Sylvanas established their home in the Undercity—the former dungeon catacombs beneath the palace. In World of Warcraft: Forever (hereafter Forever), players turn their attention back to the heart of Lordaeron that they once passed by.
The Ruins of Lordaeron destroyed by the Scourge A mysterious mist covering the homeland of the Forsaken
Newly introduced in Forever, the Ruins of Lordaeron is a low-level dungeon set in the old city streets directly above the Undercity. The recommended level is 15–20, making it an ideal dungeon for Horde players who have completed leveling through Silverpine Forest and the Barrens.
The players' objective is to assist the Forsaken in reclaiming the Ruins of Lordaeron. Although the Forsaken built their capital of Undercity below ground, a foul mist has spread across the ruined streets and graveyard directly above. Remaining Scourge forces hide within the mist, and Forsaken scouts point to Necromancer Rath'mael as the creator of the fog.
In Silverpine Forest, Tabitha Heartweaver tasks players with finding her husband, Edward. Following Arthas's slaughter in Lordaeron, her husband had been visiting the Lordaeron graveyard every week searching for their lost son, but he has failed to return.
Meanwhile, the Forsaken Paladin Morbin Lightbane asks players to slay Scourge forces and collect 25 Intact Limbs. Replacement limbs are needed to repair damaged flesh on decaying Forsaken bodies. Players venture into the Ruins of Lordaeron to protect the future of the Forsaken and defeat Rath'mael.
Swarms of spiders infesting the ruins The former Alliance Grand General, Othmar, turned into an Abomination
Upon entering the ruins, players are immediately greeted by swarms of dozens of spiders. The first boss encountered, Witherfang, is also a giant spider. The Forsaken Apothecary Theodore Griffs takes an interest in rumors that Witherfang's venom can melt even undead flesh. Players extract a sample to bring back to him and continue forward.
Exploring the ruins reveals a large Crest of Lordaeron. Alliance players can deliver it to Lady Dina Kennedy in Stormwind, while Horde players can hand it in to Oran Snakewrithe in the Undercity.
As players venture deeper, traces of the Scourge become clearer with skeletal warriors and banshees appearing. The second boss, The Baron, is a massive Abomination, and a subsequent quest reveals that his head belonged to 'Othmar', a former Grand General of the Alliance. A follow-up questline tied to this is highly recommended for Horde players to experience firsthand.
Scourge hordes taking center stage Ghouls and other undead pouring out from across the ruins
Continuing on, interacting with the fire in a specific building's fireplace triggers successive waves of Scourge attacks. Enduring five waves summons the third boss, Viktor the Vile. Behind a statue in the market area, players can also encounter a large banshee, The Abandoned.
In the central area, Bjork, a giant ghoul accompanied by flesh golems and a ghoul swarm, blocks the path. Defeating Bjork allows players to reach the graveyard at last, confronting Necromancer Rath'mael, the mastermind behind the disturbance.
After defeating Rath'mael, who had been concealing the Scourge beneath thick fog, players find Edward's body in a corner of the graveyard. Delivering news of her husband's death to Tabitha concludes the Horde quest, but this story continues in an Alliance questline.
Alliance players can discover a bloodstained letter in the graveyard. Bringing it to the Stormwind Orphanage reveals that the Heartweavers' son, Jeremy, survived and was adopted by a woman in Duskwood. The adoptive mother explains that Jeremy has been mute since the tragedy of Lordaeron, promising to hand him the letter once he recovers, bringing the quest to a close.
Set against the backdrop of the Lordaeron Massacre—one of the central events in the Warcraft saga—the Ruins of Lordaeron is rich with interconnected narratives. It leaves players eager to see how Arthas will reappear in Forever and what path lies ahead for both the Scourge and the Forsaken.
