Official Cataclysm site update: The Twilight Highlands
by Anne Stickney 
Jul 9th 2010 at 6:45PM
Those of you watching the live stream last night may have noticed a fly-by of the Twilight Highlands zone, including some strange rock formations, and the frustrations of that ever-present invisible wall. Thankfully, we now know a little more about what's behind that invisible wall in the Twilight Highlands zone courtesy of an update to the official Cataclysm website posted today. Some highlights from the post:
- The Dragonmaw orcs have a presence in the Highlands, and "their knowledge of dragons and warfare is of unquestionable importance, especially amidst the chaos of the Cataclysm." This explains a little of why they would join up with the Horde, though I'm still wondering how Alexstrasza feels about the whole situation.
- The Wildhammer dwarves also make an appearance here, and have begun to consider allying with Stormwind and Ironforge "thanks to the entreaties of their cousins, the Bronzebeard clan."
- It looks like the red dragonflight's days of haunting Grim Batol and the surrounding areas are numbered -- the black dragonflight are taking over.
- The Twilight's Hammer cult has relocated here due to the presence of an Old God.
Filed under: Cataclysm
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Cameron Jul 9th 2010 6:54PM
I wonder which old god will it be? a new one or a old one returning
Falcon6 Jul 9th 2010 6:59PM
The only Old God that's been mentioned in the beta has been Soggoth the Slitherer, who was being unearthed in Darkshore. [Master's Glaive] I think there's a quest in Darkshore where you prevent it from happening.
However, the same skeleton shape was in Twilight Highlands, too, so it may be an interesting development...two old gods in one expansion, or was Soggoth moved by the Twilight's Hammer in order to properly resurrect it?
RogueJedi86 Jul 9th 2010 9:24PM
Since there's 2 of them and they look similar, can't they just be Old God minions? What are the odds of 2 Old Gods looking alike? C'Thun and Yogg-Saron look nothing alike. Maybe these guys are more like Water counterparts to Ragnaros' fire? Maybe a bit lower ranked, of a type that can have multiple guys that look the same.
seanthehorde Jul 9th 2010 7:00PM
When I see the screenshot of what looks like The Shire, I can't help but think "We have the finest weed in the South Farthing" (part of the Shire for those of you who aren't LoTR nerds)
Sharvis Jul 9th 2010 7:00PM
On the very first screenshot in the official preview, I noticed the barely visible goblin balloons. Is this a new graphic option being previewed? I don't remember the same effect on any other objects in the distance on the current WoW client.
It'd seem odd if they were stealthed and visible from so far.
Falcon6 Jul 9th 2010 7:01PM
Out of all the new zones, Deepholm or this zone could be my new Storm Peaks. The land looks fantastic.
I simply can't believe that this was right next to the Wetlands all along.
Jormund Fenris Jul 9th 2010 7:20PM
That pic makes me consider a Shub-niggurath-style old god, you know; "the black goat in the woods with a thousand youngs"?
So... "the black face in the woods with a thousand noses" is my guess.
krusty_burger Jul 9th 2010 7:27PM
i gotta grind me up a crimson whelpling before they goes away!
underground_slacker Jul 9th 2010 7:27PM
I'm Guessing it's the hand, Soggoth The slitherer.
Though im still expecting a few expansions down the line algalon recruits people to take on them all combined as azatoth or some such thing.
Have they ever defined what an old god is? like the naaru are beings composed of the light, are the old gods considered immensely powerful demons? do they align with a certain form of magic or energy?
I know its been said we can never truly beat and excorcise them 100% but since all that jazz with cthun w'eve taken on kiljaeden and the lich king and numerous demigods and even malygos. Hell, wasn't algalon sent BECAUSE we were breaking out limits so to speak?
My guess is sargeras might be the final boss, but some amalgamation of all the old god "parts" will form into some ff9 osmos type 'secret' big bad.
Marcosius Jul 10th 2010 3:54AM
"Hell, wasn't algalon sent BECAUSE we were breaking out limits so to speak?"
Err no, Algalon was sent because we killed Loken who IIRC was somesort of "ultimate watcher" whose death triggered an automated distress call. And we killed Loken because he had sided with Yogg-Saron.
So Algalon comes to Ulduar and goes all like, "Titan defenses mostly eradicated, not good, requesting nuking of a massive scale." and well that would be bad for us so we're like "nuh-uh sister" and promptly kick his ass and he's like "Oh man I guess you have more spunk in ya than you look, go save your puny little world mortals with my blessing, here's a mcguffin."
MusedMoose Jul 9th 2010 7:29PM
I remember someone's theory - they had a whole page about it - that there would be five Old Gods in Azeroth, and their locations would roughly form a star. So there's Yogg-Saron in Northrend, Soggoth in Ashenvale, C'thun in Silithus, and now another Old God in Hyjal. Has there been any word of Old God activity in Stranglethorn? Because if so, it looks like someone's mad theory could be right...
Anne Stickney Jul 9th 2010 7:36PM
That was actually my mad theory! And it was disproved with the release of the Stormrage novel, sadly. But I enjoyed puzzling it out regardless!
Tim Jul 9th 2010 8:02PM
I read that Anne was hoping you'd come back to your blog site but at least I get to see your writing in the Lore articles. I was actually going to tell MusedMoose it was you!
Vaeku Jul 9th 2010 8:56PM
I thought the theory worked out to be Northend (Yogg-Saron), Darkshore (Soggoth), Silithus (C'Thun), and then Stranglethorn Vale or Karazhan, and then Tirisfal Glades (the area to the west of the playable land) or Twilight Highlands.
Makes sense it would be Twilight Highlands as in the new maps for Cata, the area west of Tirisfal Glades is now filled in with mountains. :(
erknost Jul 9th 2010 7:46PM
Damn the Horde it's taking more, and more scum from the road. The Alliance is gonna grown up with the join of the first race that use a flying mount in the whole WoW Universe, the brave and hardcore Wildhammer dwarves! And the Horde its taking the Orc clan from the Old Horde who kidnap, repetitive and literately rape the Aspect of Life (Alexstrasza), force her to procreate and merciless use her children (the red dragonflight) as ammunition... Why the damn Dragonmaw orcs? I will prefer some Jungle Trolls or the Black Rock clan.
Cameron Jul 9th 2010 8:04PM
Sometimes i don't pay attention but wasn't there something about killing all the old guys would make the planet fall apart?
DWShammy Jul 9th 2010 8:10PM
Wait. Old god? Which one now?
itneverstarts Jul 9th 2010 8:29PM
Let's be honest. The crap about the name Azeroth being related to the....Azathor? Arathor? Well, whatever that stupid name was, seems less likely more and more now. With all the H.P. Lovecraft homage I would have to imagine the leader of the Old Gods will be getting a VERY familiar name.
Zhadruun Jul 9th 2010 8:50PM
"Hn'teig" will be the new Old God. It'll be consisting solely of tentacles! Old God of Lust.
Murdertime Jul 10th 2010 11:52AM
Well, he'd have to be god of lust, if he consisted entirely of te...
Oh. You said tentacles.
I suppose that works as well.