Mount Arreat

"The will of the mountain perseveers."

- A Barbarian^(src)

Arreat, the shattered mountain

Mount Arreat was the tallest mountain near Harrogath and former resting place of the Worldstone. Once the beloved site of the Barbarians, it is now a smoldering crater.

Lore

Prior to its destruction, Arreat featured open expanses of land, snow-covered tundras, and an extensive network of ice caves. Twenty years after its destruction, it resembled a volcanic wasteland.

History

Mount Arreat was created by Inarius, shaping the mountain as a protective shell around the Worldstone. It was the first landform created on Sanctuary.

Legend of the Barbarian

"Again, we need horses and riders. Send them out to every one of the tribes. Sanctuary must be protected from all who would bring arms against it. We will make our home here, to defend the Worldstone forever. Our people will live and die in the shadow of Mount Arreat. All other conflicts must come second. To our last breaths, our mission will be that the hope and promise of Sanctuary abides."

- Bul-Kathos^(src)

The Barbarians on Arreat's upper slopes

Only a few generations removed after the Purge, Mount Arreat was beset by the Zealots. In the name of Lilith, they intended to take the Worldstone. Under the command of Bul-Kathos, the Barbarians retreated to the slopes of Arreat to endure a siege. The Barbarians held the line at first, but were forced to retreat further up the mountain when the Zealots unleashed their Sorcerers and Beastmasters. While the Barbarians had the high ground, a battle of attrition would favor the Zealots, as due to their lower position, they had easier access to resources than the more barren upper crags. It was a moot point however, as the Zealots broke through the Barbarians' lines, and Hiram, the Zealots' leader, made it to the Worldstone Chamber.

In the battle that followed, Hiram slew his sister, Naarah, and was then confronted by Bul-Kathos. Such was Bul-Kathos's fury and strength, the entire mountain shook. Ultimately, Bul-Kathos slew his wayward son, and the invaders were defeated. However, Bul-Kathos knew that Lilith's legacy was long-lasting, that there would always be those who could be compelled to fight and die for her. Furthermore, the Worldstone was too powerful a force to resist. Thus, Bul-Kathos ordered riders be sent to all the tribes. The Barbarians would make their home at Arreat's base, to defend the mountain and Worldstone until the end. Thus began the Barbarians' vigil, and the hamlet that would become Harrogath was established at its base.

The Vigil

"Do not pity the spirits of Arreat in their unending vigil. To give one's very existence in defense of the Mountain is the most honored of all sacrifices."

- Chieftain Kientarc^(src)

The Barbarians held that they were all tasked with defending Mount Arreat until death, at which point they were free to pass on. However, some bound their spirits to the mountain, so that they could serve the mountain well after their physical forms had perished. To give one's existence to defend the mountain was considered the most honored of all sacrifices in Barbarian culture.

The Barbarians buried their warriors upon the slopes of Arreat, and believed that those who were denied this would be doomed to have their spirits roam the land for eternity.

The Barbarian tribes were aware that a day would come when they would have to protect the mountain from the armies of Hell. That is why they built extensive walls and fortifications throughout all larger open areas on the mountain. When Baal's armies arrived, however, these fortifications were overtaken by the demons and used to their advantage.

Three ghostly warriors, known as the Ancients, also stood at the mountain's summit and protected the entrance to the Worldstone Keep. Their names were Korlic, Madawc, and Talic. The three warriors were summoned to Mount Arreat in order to protect it, honored to guard the Worldstone for all eternity.

Destruction and Aftermath

"When Arreat was sundered, the world quaked."

- Anonymous^(src)

Tyrael and Mount Arreat

When he came for the Worldstone, Baal was able to bypass them due to possessing the Relic of the Ancients, while the heroes in pursuit of him were forced to fight through him. They succeeded in defeating Baal, but not before he corrupted the Worldstone, forcing the archangel Tyrael to destroy it. He succeeded, but the resulting explosion sent half of Arreat's bulk exploding outward, devastating the surrounding lands. Stone and ash rained from the sky for days, turning the waters around it as red as blood, and ravines formed as Arreat collapsed. The explosion was so loud that it was even heard in Westmarch. The destruction of the mountain spurred bordering nations to close their gates, strengthen their walls, and let the world grow savage in their wake.

Veradani from the Floating Sky Monastery collected shards of Arreat after its sundering and prayed over them. A horned helm was created from the shards after three months of consecration. The Druid Aglainn journeyed into the Dreadlands to chronicle the aftermath of the disaster.

20 years after the mountain's destruction, the forces of Azmodan poured out of the mountain's crater using it as his base operation as a staging point to assault Bastion's Keep to the south. However, they were driven back to the crater and defeated.

Known Locations

The following areas were located on the mountain prior to its destruction. Post-destruction, it is doubtful whether some, if any of these locations still exist.

• Arreat Plateau
• Arreat Summit
• Crystalline Passage
• Drifter Cavern
• Frozen River
• Frozen Tundra
• Glacial Trail
• The Ancients' Way
• Worldstone Keep

Trivia

This section contains facts and trivia relevant to this article.

• Mount Arreat seems to be based on Mount Ararat, a snow-capped, dormant volcanic cone in Turkey. Mount Ararat in Judeo-Christian tradition is associated with the "Mountains of Ararat" where, according to the book of Genesis, Noah's ark came to rest.
• In his writings, Karshun suggested the idea that when Arreat was destroyed, its ashes dirtied the skies, making it harder for starlight to be interpreted in the scrying of the Taan Clan. However, he also noted that the simpler answer was that the Taan were simply delusional.