A Time for Heroes

WotLK Classic Northrend Leveling Guide

A Time for Heroes

Quest 1 of 4 in the Valiance Keep Defense Chain

Alliance • Borean Tundra • Level 71 • Valiance Keep

Report to Sergeant Hammerhill at Valiance Keep.

General Arlos sends you from the barracks (56.7, 72.6) to Sergeant Hammerhill, who stands just outside the inner hold near the main gate (56.3, 69.5). Short walk north from the barracks. This kicks off the four-quest defense chain that defines your first hours at Valiance Keep.

Vikstone's Classic Expedition

Arlos called him a hero. Vikstone had been called worse, and the Scourge gathering outside the walls didn't care either way.

“It’s good to have you among us, Vikstone. We’ve all heard of your past deeds. As you know, King Wrynn is moving great armies into Northrend to meet those of Arthas. But armies are nothing without true heroes to inspire and lead them. I want you to be that hero for my men. Fight alongside them against the Scourge that lays siege to our stronghold.

Report to Sergeant Hammerhill outside the inner hold. Valiance Keep cannot fall. The future of our campaign depends on it.”

-General Arlos

Objective

LEVEL

71

Requires level

68

Start

General Arlos

END

Sergeant Hammerhill

Meet with Sergeant Hammerhill inside the barracks in Valiance Keep.

Borean Tundra Storyline

Reward

Upon completion of this quest you will gain:

2,000 experience

10 reputation with Valiance Expedition

Walkthrough

Quest Giver: General Arlos in Valiance Keep barracks, second floor [56.7, 72.6]

Turn In: Sergeant Hammerhill at Valiance Keep [56.3, 69.5]

Objective: Report to Sergeant Hammerhill at Valiance Keep.

Walkthrough

Exit the barracks and head north toward the Keep gates.
Sergeant Hammerhill stands just outside the inner hold, near the main entrance.

Chain Position: Quest 1 of 4 in the Valiance Keep defense chain:

A Time for Heroes (this quest)
The Siege
Death From Above
Plug the Sinkholes

Lore Context

General Arlos acknowledges your reputation from Outland. This marks a shift in how the game treats your character: you’re no longer a nameless adventurer, but a recognized hero whose deeds precede them.
The quest title references Warcraft II: Beyond the Dark Portal (1996), where “A Time for Heroes” is the name of Act I in the Human Campaign. That storyline featured Alleria, Turalyon, Khadgar, and Danath rallying to stop the Horde’s second invasion.

Explore Borean Tundra’s hidden easter eggs, lore mysteries, and connections across Warcraft history in Vikstone’s Borean Tundra Chronicles, along with the complete quest storyline.

Vikstone's War Journal

“I want you to be that hero for my men,” Arlos said.

Vikstone Portrait Act 1 — Illustrated by Christian DiBari and Simon Gough.

It’s a mantle I’ve worn before, but time has a way of corroding such titles. Heroes are celebrated in song, praised in feasts, yet their battles are fought in the mind as much as in the flesh. I wondered if Arlos truly understood what he was asking, or if he was blinded by tales of past victories.

I made my way to Sergeant Hammerhill, watching the way men braced themselves as the Scourge drew near. These soldiers looked at me as a symbol, a piece of hope on a battlefield where death lurked behind every wall.

Hammerhill saw me coming. Dwarven stock, solid as the stone he was born from.

“By Magni’s beard,” he said. “Looks like the heavy artillery’s arriving.”

If Valiance Keep stands, it will not be because of words or tales of glory. It will stand because someone was willing to fight, bleed, and bear the unseen scars once more.

The Scourge has no use for heroes. But I will make them remember why they fear us.

Hammerhill pointed toward the walls, where something on the other side had already started scratching its way through and turning the waiting into The Siege.