Hey! You've got your Azeroth in my Outland!
by Mike Schramm 
Jan 26th 2007 at 11:36AM
So earlier today I finally decided to leave the confines of Hellfire Peninsula (I haven't even come close to finishing all the quests there-- Outland is just plain packed with things to collect and kill) and check out the rest of the continent for myself. I did a quick loop around Zangarmarsh and then headed for my favorite zone so far, Nagrand, to see the PVP town of Halaa, and then, on my way back to Terokkar Forest and Shattrath, I noticed a familiar looking camp on the side of the road. I pulled up, shocked, and sure enough, it was my old friend Hemet Nesingwary! The master hunter (and quest giver) actually recognized me when I talked to him from our time together back in STV (apparently he's left his son in charge back there), and said he'd come through the portal and leveled up to 70 in the blink of an eye, just to see how the hunting is here in Outland.Likewise, while I haven't seen him yet, I hear Rexxar, the questgiver in the Horde Onyxia quest chain who used to be in Desolace, now resides at a settlement in Blade's Edge Mountains. Maybe I just don't know how much WoW has affected me, but seeing Hemet in Nagrand was like seeing an old friend, and I know when I see Rexxar I'll have to give him a /nod or even a /wave as well.
And the self-referential stuff goes back even farther than WoW's Azeroth-- the Unyielding Vengeful Knights and Footmen in the Expedition Armory in Hellfire Peninsula are right out of Warcraft II, and the first time I went to Shattrath to do the little tour quest, I was too agog at the scenery to realize the questgiver I was clicking through was none other than Khadgar-- THE Khadgar! As in, the one standing with the rest of the statues in Stormwind!
I love Blizzard's references to pop culture and the real world. And yes, it's nerdy, but I think that I love their self-referential lore stuff even more-- it's awesome to see the story of these characters play out before our eyes. Seen any other familiar faces in Outland yet?
Filed under: Fan stuff, Virtual selves, Quests, Expansions, The Burning Crusade, Lore
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Alex Jan 26th 2007 11:46AM
You can catch Shauly Pore up in the Bio-Dome in central Netherstorm as well as Ophera Windfury at the inn in the Temple of Telhamat.
Zuuler Jan 26th 2007 11:53AM
As part of a horde quest chain, Thrall eventually comes to Outland. You also meet Garrosh Hellscream, son of Grom Hellscream, as well as the son of Kilrogg Deadeye.
But of the references to pop culture, I think the inkeeper at Thrallmar is the best, Floyd Pinkus.
Kahja Jan 26th 2007 11:58AM
I love that dwarf.
elenion Jan 26th 2007 12:06PM
So does that mean Hemet is no longer at his camp in STV? Or is he in both places?
edthurston316 Jan 27th 2007 2:56AM
I've seen the quest chain where Thrall wants to come to Outland, but his advisers tell him not to - how do you further the questline with the Outland orcs, and when does Thrall actaully come to Outland?
Oh, and the Khadgar thing - I flipped out when I saw him. I've been playing since the first Warcraft came out... so going through the Dark Portal was cool enoguh for me - then I ran into Shattrath and saw Khadgar, and I was amazed. Rumor has it that his buddies, Turayalon the Paladin and Danath the Footman are around too?
And seeing that Grom's legacy lives on... that is awesome. "WELCOME TO MY NIGHTMARE!"
Nelson Jan 26th 2007 12:09PM
Heming's son is in STV. Plus, theres snakes on his crashed plane.
chaz Jan 26th 2007 12:10PM
I'm sure this has been noted, but, I noticed the skinning trainer's name is Seymour. That, my dear friends, is good humor.
Strongmark on Arthas Jan 26th 2007 12:12PM
@4: His son was left in charge at STV, atleast thats what I gathered from the article.
Alex Jan 26th 2007 12:15PM
Also, there's a quest area in Blade's Edge called Toshley's Station and Blizzard just had to make a quest called "Picking Up Some Power Converters".
Tigraine Jan 26th 2007 12:16PM
For shure you haven't checked out Caverns of Time yet!
God it's awesome.
Do you remember one of the very first Westfall quests?
"Poor old Blanchy"? And besides the questgiver there is a grey horse called "Old Blanchy"..
Guess what, in Old Hillsbrad where you have to Free Thrall you will find "Young Blanchy" in the Stables at Tarrens Mill.
Having read the Book on Thrall's Escape I just had to love that Old Hillsbrad Instance. It's just magnificent.
And protecting Medhivh from the Dragons while he opens the Dark Portal is just great.
Too sad me and my group are only 68 so we had no chance to stand that invasion of Dragons and protect Medivh.
We somehow managed to close 4 Portals, but then it became just too mutch and we drew back so they could kill Medivh and let the mobs despawn.
It was awesome!
Lori Jan 26th 2007 12:43PM
Got a one hand sword in Eversong Woods called 'Stung'.
Tigraine Jan 26th 2007 12:18PM
Oh, and did I mention that Kel'Thuzad walks around Southshore as a Human in Old Hillsbrad?
Also, Nat Pagle stands at the Docks and does some fishing :)
Patrick Jan 26th 2007 12:20PM
I laughed when I received a pair of Kurkenstocks for finishing a quest on Azuremist: slaying the Kurken at that.
The guys at Blood Watch were also impressed that I'd made the Kessel run in under 15 minutes.
Trasketor Jan 26th 2007 12:26PM
I noticed a guy in Shattrath city that looks exactly like He-man. I didnt get to check out his name tho. Did anyone else notice that guy?
Rayze Jan 26th 2007 12:38PM
Y'all forgot about the Floyd Pinkus innkeeper in Thrallmart.
Angusailde Jan 26th 2007 12:58PM
"Adam Eternum" and his Battlecat and "Oric Coe" are with him. Hilarious.
Camaris Jan 26th 2007 1:10PM
Be sure to read Adam Eternum's gossip text. Counterpart to He-Man is "Keldor the Lost" (Skeletor), a Horde battle-master.
Ryan Jan 26th 2007 1:34PM
Screw Hemet... that cock gives you quests to kill like 3 million things. Talk about getting sick of killing the same crap over and over.
Heymish Jan 26th 2007 1:29PM
What about Haris Pilton in the old world tavern?
Shalkis Jan 26th 2007 1:32PM
There's an orc rogue at Shadowprey Village filling in for Rexxar, so you don't need to go all the way to Blade's Edge mountains to be able to gank Onyxia. :)
Oh, and if you spot Kel'Thuzad in Southshore, keep your eyes open: there's a small event for you. Three kids are running around Southshore: Little Jimmy Vishas, Sally Whitemane and Renault Mograine. Sooner or later they'll corner a frog. After Little Jimmy fails to interrogate the infidel frog about his dirty little secrets, the gallant Mograine engages the dastardly frog in combat, only to get mortally wounded. Fortunately Sally rushes to her shiny knight's rescue and heals him. After that they'll kick the crap out of the poor frog, killing it.
..then Kel'thuzad sees the dead frog and demonstrates his awesome powers in front of his friend, Hercular.