 Azshara | |
|---|---|
| Level: 10-20 | |
 | |
| Population | 9,000 |
| Races |
  Gnome  |
| Major settlements |
 Bilgewater Harbor |
| Minor settlements |
Camp Valormok (250)  Talrendis Point (75) |
| Languages | Nazja, Darnassian, Taur-ahe, Ursine |
| Faiths | Ancients, Azshara, Arkkoroc, Elune |
| Affiliation | Horde, Bilgewater Cartel |
| Location | Northern Kalimdor |
- For the naga and once Highborne queen after whom this region was named, see Queen Azshara.
Azshara is located in northeastern Kalimdor, east of Ashenvale, south of Winterspring, and north of Durotar. It is a beautiful coastal area cloaked in eternal autumn. The trees and other flora are tinged in brilliant oranges and reds, and nearer the coast, great cliffs and sandy beaches line the ocean. The region's inhabitants can make life hard for the nature lover, however. Enraged ghosts, vicious satyr, stalking naga and ferocious wildlife can quickly put an end to those who venture too far from the road.
A shattered stretch of coastline on Kalimdor’s northeast, Azshara was once the greatest night elf metropolis. The city fell millennia ago in the War of the Ancients, but a few ragged buildings perch on the cliffs overlooking similar ruins among the coral.[1] Much of the city of Azshara fell into the ocean.[2] The Horde, aided by their new allies the Bilgewater Cartel goblins, are working tirelessly to tame the land, but naga are a constant danger.
History
Before the Great Sundering, this shattered stretch of coast along Kalimdor's northern border was once a part of the night elven capital of Zin-Azshari; then came the demons' expulsion from the world. The land was rent asunder and the sea thundered in, making the region a watery grave and leaving nothing but ruins of the once great city. The night elves who survived named this region — once glorious, now nothing but a shattered relic — Azshara, after their queen who was driven mad by demonic influence. Since that time, this place of rocky islands, jagged cliffs, and coral-choked seas has given birth to many tales.
Some night elves suggest that not all of the demons were banished, still lurking beneath the glittering waters of the Coral Sea and waiting to strike back. Others claim that Queen Azshara was not drowned, but transformed into a hideous aquatic thing who will someday lead her accursed followers to retake the surface world. A few whisper that the Dark Portal that first brought the demons to Azeroth remains and rests under the sea waiting for someone to reopen it. Still others assert that the ancient Sundering awakened something that dwelled in the deepest part of the ocean, something that will eventually burst forth in a tidal wave of destruction. Whatever the truth, night elves agree that the region is cursed.[3]
The Shattering
The Shattering radically changed the balance of power in Azshara. The Bilgewater Cartel goblins, the Horde's newest ally, have made their home here, building a city into the cliff side, and destroying the Azshara Crater to make way for a large quarry.[4] To show their loyalty to the Horde, the goblins have reshaped Azshara into a giant Horde symbol.[5]
Kalec is rounding up all of the blue dragonflight, as he fears the death of Malygos will be a sign of weakness and Deathwing will send out agents to assassinate the remaining dragons within the flight. This holds true as the black dragonflight has invaded Azshara to hunt down Azuregos. Kalec and Azuregos help low level Horde players to repel the invasion.[6]
Getting There
Alliance- From Forest Song in Ashenvale, follow the road east into Azshara. The Alliance outpost Talrendis Point is just over the river.
- Horde
- From Orgrimmar, go northeast through the Orgrimmar Rear Gate. Alternatively, from Splintertree Post in Ashenvale, travel along the road east into Azshara. The Horde encampment Valormok is against the mountains, north of ruined Haldarr Encampment.
Geography
The Rocketway
A river separates the primordial wood from what land there is. The terrain beyond the river is little more than a strip of green above fragmented cliffs that rise high over a stretch of ivory beach. The waves of the shallow Coral Sea sweep against this beach, and islands — little more than spires of jagged rock — jut from the water. A twisted expanse of reef creates a labyrinth of coral beneath the ocean surface, making sea travel here virtually impossible.
The night elves consider the place cursed, and most other races find the constant storms unpleasant. There is but a single habitation in Azshara, the orc trading village of Grim Ulang, its residents telling of creatures flitting about the ruins of Zin-Azshari further along the cliffs, and murlocs and naga swimming in the Coral Sea. Bands of undead have appeared along the beach and at the fringes of the Ashenvale Forest. As well, the dark chants of demon cultists have echoed along the cliffs in counterpoint to the thunder of storms. Steady rumors and sightings have led to frequent night elf patrols and an increased martial presence in Grim Ulang.[3]
There are no instances or battlegrounds in this zone.
Maps and subregions
Map of Azshara
Travel hubs
Flight paths from Bilgewater Harbor
Flight paths from Valormok
- Bilgewater Harbor
- Orgrimmar
- Northern Rocketway Terminus
- Southern Rocketway Terminus
- The Crossroads, The Barrens
- Splintertree Post, Ashenvale
- Bloodvenom Post, Felwood
- Everlook, Winterspring
Flight paths from the Northern Rocketway Terminus
Flight paths from the Southern Rocketway Terminus
Regions adjacent to Azshara
| Zone Name | Faction | Level Range | Direction | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durotar | |
1-12 | South | By swimming Southfury River south, then going ashore east |
| Orgrimmar |
|
1-60 | South | By going trough the Orgrimmar Rear Gate southwest |
| The Barrens |
|
10-28 | South | By swimming Southfury River south, then going ashore west, or by flightpath to Ratchet |
| Ashenvale |
|
20-30 | West | By foot, or by flightpath from Valormok to Splintertree Post, or by flightpath from Talendris Point to Astranaar |
Notable characters
- Main article: Azshara NPCs
Azshara is home to several characters of note. At the Azshara Tower, Archmage Xylem aids mages and rogues in achieving their full potential. Magus Rimtori's Thalassian expedition ravishes the region in search of Highborne relics. Lord Arkkoroc reigns from his watery temple. Loramus Thalipedes, the demon hunter, watches the horizon from his island refuge. Ogtinc assists experienced hunters and priests, and on another small island far to the east, Duke Hydraxis pits heroes of all calibers against their elemental foes, sending them deep into the very core of the earth in search of retribution. Lastly, the Gadgetsprings provide their services to Engineers by selling the very rare [Deepdive Helmet] schematic, among other things.
Quests
- Main article: Azshara storyline
Resources
- Fish
- Herbs
- Leather
- [Worn Dragonscale] (Skinning level 40-60 whelps/wyrmkin)
- [Blue Dragonscale] (Skinning level 50-60 elite whelps and wyrmkin)
- Ore
Wild creatures
- Dragonspawn
- Furbolgs
- Hippogryphs
- Ghosts
- Hydras
- Infernals
- Makrura
- Mountain Giants
- Naga
- Oozes
- Satyr
- Sea Giants
- Sharks
- Stags
- Turtles
A huge goblin bomb
- Azshara 070910 021028 - Gallywix Pleasure Palace - Kirkburn 12319.jpg
Gallywix Pleasure Palace
The Secret Lab
- Azshara 070910 020929 - Hyjal waterfall - Kirkburn 12319.jpg
A waterfall cascading down from Hyjal
Launching a rocket
I wonder what this button does?
The Rocketway
- Main article: Rocketway
Orgrimmar Rocketway Exchange
Southern Rocketway Terminus
Southern Rocketway Terminus
Southern Rocketway Terminus defences
Riding the rocket
Riding the rocket
Riding the rocket
Riding the rocket
Riding the rocket
Riding the rocket
Notes
- Before patch 4.0.3a, Azshara was one of the most common spots for gold farmers, who feasted upon the large collection of thorium veins in the zone.
- Azshara is well-known for its beautiful fall-like vegetation. In a game without much in the way of weather and seasons, Azshara is a gorgeous and very unique departure from the WoW-norm.
- Azshara was supposed to be the location of the game's fourth battleground, Azshara Crater. After the release of the Burning Crusade, Eye of the Storm has taken Azshara Crater's spot for fourth battleground.
- Azshara is the name of a server, see Server:Azshara US for more details.
- Before patch 4.0.3a, Azshara was known (or not) for being one of, if not the most unpopulated zone in the game player-wise. This was most likely due to a combination of the low number of quests in the zone (some of which are parts of uncompleted chains), as well as the difficulties of navigating between the beaches and the tops of the high cliffs on the eastern side of the zone.
- Azshara was used for the [Four Wheels of Fury] Toyota commercial.
Patch changes
- Patch 4.0.3a (2010-11-23): "Completely reworked as a level 10-20 zone."
Videos
References
- ^ World of Warcraft The Roleplaying Game, pg. 18
- ^ S&L, pg. 72
- ^ a b Dungeons & Dragons Warcraft The Roleplaying Game, pg. 187-188
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji079bBDCJ4
- ^ http://www.wow.com/2009/09/27/cataclysm-starting-zone-lore-and-other-new-details-revealed/
- ^ Cataclysm Lore Details - World of Raids Forums
External links
| |||||||||||||||||
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}