Scouting in Ashenvale

Marked for the attention of Warlord Sertah

Chabat, Tamb'jika and myself went to the meeting of the War Council last four-day. On behalf of the Heritage I gave an initial report on our scouting patrols in Ashenvale in support of the Warsong Blades' imminent offensive. I also told them that our main scouting expeditions had reported directly to you as Warlord, and so, because you were unable to attend, they would have to wait for your return to get these reports.

In order to ensure that we can continue to demonstrate our loyalty to the Horde and our support to the Blades, I have conducted a number of scouting patrols in Ashenvale myself over the last few days. I include my findings here so that you can report the details to the War Council if I am not there in person. (Sorry this report is so long, but there is a lot of ground to cover.)


REPORT ON ALLIANCE OUTPOSTS IN ASHENVALE (excluding Astranaar, which is already well-studied)

Outpost of the Silverwing Elves beside the Falfarren River

- outpost has two watch-towers (both securely locked) and a lodge
- one tower has good view of main east-west road on the west bank of the river (but not the bridge itself)
- east bank of the river is steep but climbable
- guards are armed with a sword or three-bladed weapon
- usually 5 dark elves inside the lodge, 5 patrol the eastern approach, four patrol to the north and east (beside the river)
- cannot find out if the towers are manned or not
- none of the much-praised elven bows were seen; the lodge is well-equipped with swords and pole-arms
- guards rarely patrol to the south, from where a large tree allows the closest unobserved approach


To the south, Grove of the Silverwing Elves, at the entrance to Warsong Gulch

- grove has one watch-tower and a lodge (lodge presumably houses entrance to the gulch)
- gateway on north side with 2 guards
- easy to get in to the left of the gateway, or through the roots and trunks to the right
- best unobserved approach is from the east (from the direction of the Mor'shan Rampart) by going just uphill of a large tree
- grove is well-supplied with an impressive array of weapons, including two-bladed swords and bows (a goblin merchant was spotted here)
- all troops here are much better equipped and better trained
- 16 elven soldiers were counted
- they are led by an elven battlemaster riding a nightsaber cat
- she has an owl as a pet (these are rumoured to carry messages and spy for the elves)

[According to Hecht Copperpinch, the goblin merchant who supplies the Horde at Warsong Gulch, the two-bladed swords the elves use are called Warglaives,
and the strange 3-bladed weapons are called Moonglaives. Hecht says that for the right price he could get me some!]


Lodge of the Silverwind elves, on the north shore of Mystral Lake

- entrance on north side, 2 guards armed with 3-bladed weapons
- usually 3 guards inside and up to 9 other dark elves (only two armed with bows)
- building allows field of view / field of fire only to the south
- possible to get through gaps in the railing in the internal corners or by climbing over the railing at the SW or SE corners
- can get to within a bowshot of the lodge from west using cover of tree trunks in line with the northern lake shore
- approach from due east offers some cover but ground is much rougher
- could approach lodge unseen by swimming the lake underwater (water elementals would offer no serious threat); lake could be entered from east shore, but there is no cover for the last few yards
- could approach the lodge from due north from the main road and stay unobserved due to tree trunks (furbolgs would cause some slight delay); a small ruined shrine beside the main road with 3 pillars and 3 stepping stones marks the point due north of the lodge


Talondeep Path

- feasible to go west from the north end of the Talondeep Path, skirt the elven ruins in a lake, and reach main road west of Astranaar without alerting the elves to our presence; only delay would be dealing with a few beasts


Raynewood, at junction of main east-west road and road north to Felwood

- outpost built into great tree just west of the Felwood road, guarded by a few elven druids (can shape-change into bears)
- no major strategic value, few weapons, no line of sight between the great tree and the watch-tower on the main east-west road due to many trees
- watch-tower and moonwell on the north side of the east-west road
- dark elf guards and dryads
- tower has a commanding view of the junction of the roads and especially of the road going west towards Astranaar
- usually 2 guards at the tower entrance, 1 at the moonwell, 2 guards on watch at the top
- path through woods running west from Splintertree leads to Felwood road directly opposite the great tree at Raynewood and is out fo sight of the watch-tower;
difficult approach to assault the great tree from this side but the hill can be climbed


Tower guarding the road down to the coastal plain, west of Astranaar

- outpost has watch-tower and a lodge
- strangely, tower is often unmanned
- tower equipped with swords and pole-arms in racks at base and at the top; no bows or arrows seen
- lodge building usually has a single elven guard with 3-bladed weapon
- lodge has similar weapons in racks, no bows seen
- 1 dark elf seen on lodge balcony (no clues to her identity)
- tower has good view of surrounding land
- steep hills on the east side could provide an unobserved approach, but no clear view due to thickness of leaves in forest canopy; viewpoints to east are above tower roof level
- vantage point first left from furbolg valley (east of tower) gives good view of approach road south of tower, but is out of bowshot of road or tower
- ledges on hills closest to tower or lodge still not within bowshot (and do not allow troops to retrace steps to furbolg valley; would have to drop down steep hills into outpost)
- to the SW of tower, low-lying ground near elven shrine could be a good staging area out of view of the tower; area is little used, few natural dangers, dryads guard shrine itself


Hippogryph flights, current routes are:

- Alliance flights from Darkshore direction: fly south over Zoram Strand, turn east over lake infested with murlocs, fly south-east over hills, fly over shrine SW of road,
then turn east and fly along road to Astranaar
- Alliance flights from direction of Aszhara (or the dranei encampment in eastern Ashenvale): fly west along main east-west road, past Splintertree Post,
across the southern shore of the lake circling to land at the west end of Astranaar
- No Alliance flights observed from direction of Stonetalon, from Felwood, or from lands south of Ashenvale


~ Zanick ~

Excellent work Zanick.

As Ryleen has given me responsibilty for representing the Heritage until Sertah's return, i have taken the initiaive to familiarise myself with you report.

((this report now exists in game through teh powah of GHI!!! ))