Timbermaw Hold

Timbermaw Hold is the reputation faction of the Timbermaw furbolgs, the only furbolg tribe in northern Kalimdor that escaped the demonic corruption of the forests. Their tunnel under the mountains links Felwood with Moonglade and Winterspring, so most level 50-60 players meet them whether they mean to or not. Earning their trust opens the tunnel safely, a set of crafting recipes and, at Exalted, a quest for a trinket that summons a Timbermaw healer.

Who they are

Furbolgs are bear-like people who once lived peacefully in the forests of Kalimdor. When the Burning Legion's corruption spread through Felwood after the Third War, it drove nearly every tribe mad, among them the Deadwood of Felwood and the Winterfall of Winterspring. The Timbermaw sheltered in their hold and kept their minds, but they watched their forest rot and lost the voices of its spirits.

By the time of Classic, the Timbermaw have begun to look outward again. They distrust strangers, because most travelers kill any furbolg on sight, but they know they cannot survive alone. Their goal is to end the suffering of their corrupted kin and find a cure for the land. Their shamans keep the tribe's old crafts alive, especially working hides into armor, and they share that knowledge with proven friends.

Where to find them

The hold itself is a tunnel system in the mountains of northeastern Felwood, with exits into Felwood, Moonglade and Winterspring. Inside are the tribe's elder Gorn One Eye, the quartermaster Meilosh and the shaman Kernda. Outside the gates stand [[forever:npc:15395]] on the Felwood side and Salfa on the Winterspring side. Further south, Grazle waits near the Emerald Sanctuary in Felwood.

Players start near the top of Hostile, so the guards in the tunnel attack on sight. A few quests or a short stretch of furbolg killing lifts a character to Unfriendly, after which they can pass through in peace. For many players that alone is reason enough to start, since the tunnel is the only road on foot from Felwood to Moonglade and Winterspring.

Earning reputation

Every corrupted furbolg killed in the Deadwood camps of Felwood or in Winterfall Village in Winterspring gives a little reputation. The bigger gains come from quests:

• Proving yourself. Grazle's [[forever:quest:8460]] asks for kills among the southern Deadwood camp, and Nafien's [[forever:quest:8461]] does the same at the northern camp near Felpaw Village. Salfa's [[forever:quest:8464]] sends players east to Winterfall Village.
• Feathers and beads. Once those quests are done, Deadwood furbolgs drop [[forever:item:21377]] and Winterfall furbolgs drop [[forever:item:21383]]. Five of either are a repeatable turn-in: [[forever:quest:8466]] and [[forever:quest:8467]] for feathers, [[forever:quest:8469]] for beads. This is the main way to Exalted.
• Totems. A rare [[forever:item:20741]] or [[forever:item:20742]] from the furbolgs starts a one-time quest for Kernda, [[forever:quest:8470]] or [[forever:quest:8471]].
• Cloth. Meilosh takes 30 [Runecloth] in Runecloth, and tailors can bring two [Mooncloth] for Sacred Cloth.

The feather and bead turn-ins pay 50 reputation each in patch 1.12, and every kill also counts, so the climb from Neutral to Exalted is long but steady. Players in groups often farm Winterfall Village, where the beads drop alongside runecloth for the cloth quest.

Rewards

Meilosh shows his whole stock to anyone, but each recipe needs the listed standing to buy.

The enchanting formula [Formula: Enchant Weapon - Agility] (+15 Agility on a weapon) made the faction popular with enchanters, and the Timbermaw leatherworking patterns were among the better nature-resistance pieces before Ahn'Qiraj.

The Root of All Evil

At Exalted, Gorn One Eye reveals that the Winterfall madness is the work of a satyr. He hands over a [[forever:item:21144]] to plant in the mouth of High Chief Winterfall's cave. The torch calls the demon [[forever:npc:15623]], a fight for a group. Bringing back the [[forever:item:21145]] earns the [[forever:item:21326]], a trinket that summons a Timbermaw ally who heals and fights at the player's side.

History and trivia

• The faction was reworked in patch 1.9, when its name changed to Timbermaw Hold and the feather and bead turn-ins were added. Patch 1.6 had already added the Honored recipes, and patch 1.7 let players see the quartermaster's whole stock.
• In Classic the hold also has a sealed entrance in Azshara, watched by Gatekeeper Rageroar. After Cataclysm that side became home to a breakaway tribe.
• The Timbermaw also appear in the Felwood quests for Donova Snowden and in the Winterspring quests around High Chief Winterfall, whose cave is where the Exalted quest ends.
• Patch 2.2 sped up reputation gains with three old-world factions: the Timbermaw, the Argent Dawn and the Cenarion Circle.
• In later expansions, reaching Exalted with the Timbermaw became part of an achievement, "They Love Me In That Tunnel".

Sources

• Timbermaw Hold (faction) (Warcraft Wiki)
• Timbermaw Hold (Warcraft Wiki)
• Classic reputation guide (Warcraft Wiki)