MineArchiveThe Deadmines
Fictional record. This page describes a mine from a fictional setting, not a real place. Information is based on the cited canon, with adaptations and interpretation distinguished where necessary. It is kept separate from the real MineArchive corpus — see Fictional.
| Setting | World of Warcraft (Blizzard Entertainment) |
|---|---|
| Location | Beneath the town of Moonbrook in Westfall, with a separate exit into the Dagger Hills on the coast. |
| Type | Metal |
| Worked | The greatest gold-production centre in human lands before the First War – Abandoned when Moonbrook was razed during the First War; rebuilt after the Second War, then seized by the Defias Brotherhood |
| Status | Researched |
Overview
Once the greatest gold mine in human lands, abandoned after Moonbrook was razed in the orcish First War, then quietly seized generations later by the criminal Defias Brotherhood, who used its tunnels to secretly build a warship intended to bombard Stormwind itself.
History
Before the First War, the Deadmines were the largest gold-producing mine in any human kingdom. Moonbrook, the town built above them, was razed during the war and rebuilt only after the Second War — but corruption and neglect in the rebuilt Kingdom of Stormwind left Moonbrook vulnerable, and it fell under the control of Edwin VanCleef's Defias Brotherhood, who chose the abandoned mine beneath the town as their base.
Workings
Deep within the mine, the Defias — under pirate captains Greenskin and Mister Smite — secretly built and armed a warship with heavy cannon, intending to sail it into the bay outside Stormwind and open fire on the unsuspecting city.
What became of it
Adventurers fought their way through the mine to VanCleef's own cabin aboard the unfinished ship and killed him before his plan could be carried out. Years later, his daughter Vanessa VanCleef, having witnessed his death, took up his ambition to finish the 'grand juggernaut' warship herself.
Recorded claims
Each claim is marked with its basis — explicit canon, MineArchive inference, adaptation only, or fandom interpretation — and attached to the source(s) below. Where tellings disagree, both are kept.
- The Deadmines were the greatest gold-production centre in human lands before the First War, and were abandoned when Moonbrook was razed during that war. (MineArchive inference, medium) 1
- The Defias Brotherhood used the mine to secretly build and arm a warship intended to bombard Stormwind from the bay outside the city. (MineArchive inference, medium) 1,2
- After Edwin VanCleef's death, his daughter Vanessa VanCleef took up his plan to complete the warship. (MineArchive inference, medium) 2
Sources
- (interpretation) Deadmines (Classic) — Wowpedia (Fandom)
- (interpretation) Edwin VanCleef — Villains Wiki (Fandom)
Record created: 25 August 2026 · Last researched: 25 August 2026