War stories, articles & game guides
Gamer
Tribute
2026
Expeditions,
War Stories &
Culture
War stories, articles & game guides
Gamer
Tribute
2026
Expeditions,
War Stories &
Culture
“The key is forged anew. Now heed my counsel, Night Elf. Succeed in your endeavor or die trying, for if a single scale falls from one of my drakes I shall hold you personally accountable. Now, off with you.”
-Surristrasz
Give Salrand’s Key to Warmage Anzim when you are ready to free Archmage Evanor.
Provided item:
You will be able to choose one of these rewards:
You will receive:
Upon completion of this quest you will gain:
Quest Giver: Surristrasz at Amber Ledge [45, 34]
Turn In: Warmage Anzim at Amber Ledge [46, 37]
Objective: Give Salrand’s Key to Warmage Anzim when you are ready to free Evanor.
Quick Facts
Walkthrough
Simple transition quest. No combat.
Important: This quest is ONLY delivering the key. The actual dragonback assault on Evanor’s prison happens in the follow-up quest, Rescuing Evanor.
Story Context: Surristrasz’s Warning
Surristrasz makes clear that while he’s helping, his drakes are not expendable:
“The key is forged anew.”
“Now heed my counsel, <race>. Succeed in your endeavor or die trying, for if a single scale falls from one of my drakes I shall hold you personally accountable.”
“Now, off with you.”
This is typical red dragon demeanor: assistance given grudgingly, with the clear expectation that mortals will handle matters competently or face consequences.
Anzim (completion): “This is it, the key is ours!”
Why It Happens:
The quest appears to use the red drakes that wait near Anzim as part of a scripted event. Only one player can be “using” the drakes at a time. When another player is on this quest or the follow-up Rescuing Evanor, the drakes fly away, and other players cannot interact with the quest until they return.
Note on Timing: If you move away too quickly after accepting the quest, it can bug out. Stay near Anzim until you’re sure the quest is properly in your log.
Lore: Warmage Anzim
Warmage Anzim is a Kirin Tor warmage stationed at Amber Ledge who handles the red drakes allied with the Kirin Tor in their fight against Malygos’s forces. His title “Warmage” indicates he’s a combat-oriented member of the Kirin Tor, as opposed to the “Librarian” title held by Donathan and Normantis.
When he launches the assault, Anzim yells: “Mages! Take wing!”
The cooperation between Kirin Tor warmages and red dragons represents the broader alliance formed to oppose Malygos during the Nexus War. The red dragonflight, led by Alexstrasza, allied with the Kirin Tor and other dragon flights to form the Wyrmrest Accord specifically to stop the Aspect of Magic’s campaign against mortal spellcasters.
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.
Phase1
Binds when picked
Two-Hands Sword
605 - 1,010 Damage Speed 3.60
(224.3 damage per second)
+283 Strength
+596 Critical Strike
Durability 85 / 85
Requires level 110 to 120 120
Sell Price:
64
64
8
Phase2
Binds when picked
Ranged Bow
572 - 774 Damage Speed 3.00
(224.3 damage per second)
+320 Agility
+576 Critical Strike
Durability 85 / 85
Requires level 110 to 120 120
Sell Price:
62
12
73
Vikstone's War JournalSurristrasz gave me the restored key. The metal still held traces of dragonfire.
“The key is forged anew,” Surristrasz said. “Now heed my counsel. Succeed in your endeavor or die trying, for if a single scale falls from one of my drakes, I shall hold you personally accountable.”
I believed him.
“Now, off with you.”
Warmage Anzim waited at the ledge’s southern edge, three red drakes flying overhead. When I showed him the key, Anzim’s jaw set. “This is it. The key is ours!”
He turned toward the drakes, already signaling them to descend.
Lady Evanor had been in that prison for days now, tortured, interrogated, and waiting for a rescue that might never come. The mages had done their part. The dragon had done his. What remained was the flight, the fight, and whatever waited at the end of it.
I’d tortured a man to get here. Killed another to steal the key and made bargains with a creature who’d outlive everyone I’d ever known.
All for one archmage I’d never met.
Anzim had the key and the drakes were circling, and everything since that inn at Valiance Keep came down to a flight on dragonback into an arcane prison for the sake of Rescuing Evanor, whom he had never met.
