War stories, articles & game guides
Gamer
Tribute
2026
Expeditions,
War Stories &
Culture
War stories, articles & game guides
Gamer
Tribute
2026
Expeditions,
War Stories &
Culture
“We’ve got all the information we need to keep Valgarde protected. You must take these battle plans to Westguard Keep, located on the western fjord cliff wall. Speak with the flight master assistant, Emilune Winterwind. She will put you on the back of a gryphon headed towards Westguard.
Once there, find Captain Adams. He’s the one in charge. Adams will know what to do with these plans.”
-Vice Admiral Keller
Take the Dragonflayer Battle Plans to Captain Adams at Westguard Keep in the Howling Fjord.
![Key Tips:
Starting the Journey:
After accepting the quest, speak with the night elf NPC located near the flightmaster. She will provide a free ride to Westguard Keep.
Arriving at Westguard Keep:
Once you land, follow the path leading left into the keep. Captain Adams can be found on the top floor of the keep at [28, 44].](https://gamertribute.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/To-Westguard-Keep-Map.png)
Quest Giver: Vice Admiral Keller — Valgarde Port, Howling Fjord [59, 63]
Objective: Deliver the Dragonflayer Battle Plans to Captain Adams at Westguard Keep.
Quick Facts
Walkthrough
Speak with Emilune Winterwind, the night elf flight master assistant standing near Pricilla Winterwind (the actual flight master) at Valgarde’s gryphon roost. Emilune provides a free gryphon ride directly to Westguard Keep — no flight path discovery required.
Once you land at Westguard Keep [approximately 34, 43], follow the path leading left into the stone fortress. Captain Adams is on the second floor of the keep at [28, 44].
Efficiency Tips
Story Context
Vice Admiral Keller’s send-off is professional but dismissive:
“We’ve got all the information we need to keep Valgarde protected. You must take these battle plans to Westguard Keep, located on the western fjord cliff wall.”
Captain Adams’ greeting, however, reveals tension between the two commanders:
“Valgarde has not fallen? That’s a surprise. Must be due to your help. It sure wasn’t because of Keller.”
This rivalry hints at deeper command structure issues within the Valiance Expedition. Adams clearly doesn’t think much of Keller’s leadership abilities, despite Keller being the higher-ranking officer (Vice Admiral outranks Captain). The friction becomes relevant later when coordinating defenses against multiple vrykul tribes attacking across the fjord.
Adams’ completion text sets the stage for Westguard’s campaign:
“My advisors and I will need some time to study these plans. In the meantime, we can use all the help we can get!”
Lore Context
Westguard Keep sits atop the western cliffs of Howling Fjord, serving as the Alliance’s aerial gateway to Northrend. Unlike the port-focused Valgarde, Westguard maintains flying machine squadrons and the commandeered goblin zeppelin Lady Lug.
The keep has a joint human and dwarven population, with a prominent dwarven statue in the central courtyard. This may represent Muradin Bronzebeard. Westguard could have been his expedition’s base during the events of Warcraft III, before he was believed killed during Arthas’ quest for Frostmourne. (Muradin, of course, survived and was later found alive during the war against the Lich King.)
The vrykul threat here differs from Valgarde. While the Dragonflayer clan attacks the eastern port, Westguard faces threats from Ember Clutch (proto-drake breeding grounds), the Whisper Gulch kobold infestation, and Scourge incursions from the north.
Quest Chain Complete: Valgarde Defense
This chain concludes your introduction to Howling Fjord’s Alliance presence. From Westguard, quest lines branch into multiple directions: the Ember Clutch proto-drake threat, Whisper Gulch mining operations, the assault on Skorn, and eventually the Explorers’ League operations at Steel Gate.
Explore Howling Fjord’s hidden easter eggs, lore mysteries, and connections across Warcraft history in Vikstone’s Howling Fjord Chronicles, along with the complete quest storyline.
You will be able to choose one of these rewards:
You will also receive:
Upon completion of this quest you will gain:
Vikstone's War Journal
“We’ve got all the information we need to keep Valgarde protected,” Keller said. “You must take these to Westguard Keep, on the western fjord cliff wall.” He nodded toward the flight platform and handed me the battle plans. “Speak with Emilune Winterwind. She’ll put you on a gryphon headed west. Find Captain Adams. He’s the one in charge.”
Emilune is a kaldorei name. I found her at the gryphon roost, and for a moment we shared the quiet recognition of kin far from home. She asked no questions, just secured the battle plans in a courier’s case and helped me mount.
The flight gave me my first real view of the Howling Fjord.
Cliffs worn by ancient forces, plunging into grey water, forests clinging to impossible slopes, and everywhere, the signs of habitation older than human memory. Vrykul ruins dotted the landscape. We were the ones intruding on something that had been sleeping.
Westguard Keep rose from the cliff face, smaller than Valgarde, but better positioned and harder to assault.
Captain Adams met me in the command hall, took the plans, and allowed himself a smile.
“Valgarde has not fallen? That’s a surprise. Must be due to your help.” The smile sharpened. “It sure wasn’t because of Keller.”
Politics between commanders. Some things never changed.
“I’m glad you decided to come over. My advisors and I will need some time to study these plans.” He looked up. “In the meantime, we can use all the help we can get.”
Back at Valgarde a dwarf named McSorf was still waiting on word about the archaeologists who went into Wyrmskull and stayed there, which is what turns them into The Human League.
