The latest build of the Cataclysm beta opened Deepholm, Azeroth's elemental plane of earth, for questing and leveling. Understandably, the big question on everybody's mind was "how exactly do we get there?" It's underground, after all, in another dimension.
Well, as it turns out, it involves a certain orc shaman, a particularly large whirlpool, and a very brave flying mount. Check out the incredibly epic entry into Deepholm in our video after the break, and then try to imagine how anything else in the expansion can top that flight -- or that zone.
@zdave: Um... no. Also, the Washington Monument, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Pillars of Hercules, and the Tower of London are not Stephen King references either. @.@
Actually I see where he was going with the dark tower thing, there are a lot more similarities than it just being a large free-standing column made of a light absorbing material. In the series, the Dark Tower was the focal point of the universe, and every universe. It was the central point connecting the "beams" that maintained the laws of physics and the foundation for the world. While the Dark Tower did not exist physically as a tower in all of the universes, it did exist in some form in the key worlds. The Tower was assailed by the Crimson King and his minions in an attempt to throw the worlds into ultimate chaos, erasing all order and substance, and was protected by the last gunslinger of a forgotten age and his compatriots. In Cataclysm, the World Pillar was at the center of Deepholm and Azeroth, supporting the elemental planes. When broken, it has caused disruptions in the laws of physics (see the floating rocks everywhere) and the foundations of both realms. There is no World Pillar in Azeroth, but it is mirrored in the Maelstrom, which is also the former location of the Well of Eternity, the font which formed the foundation of the magical development of Azeroth. The World Pillar was shattered by Deathwing, and if not for the intervention of Thralls shamanism and the actions of the player characters, the realms would have merged fully, creating massive destruction and chaos. Intentional or not, there are some very interesting parallels between the Dark Tower of the King mythology and the World Pillar of the Warcraft universe. Whether or not the developers capitalize on this remains to be seen, but in light of their previous work in Wrath of the Lich King (with its many Tolkien references) I hope they do.
@zdave: I'll admit, I did think of that when I heard the term "world pillar". If we get something even remotely resembling Beams, I will be very happy.
It makes so much sense now why Thrall has left Garrosh in charge of Orgrimmar. Thrall is too busy KEEPING ALL OF AZEROTH FROM COLLAPSING INTO A GIANT VORTEX OF DESTRUCTION!!!
Considering the fact that, at Blizzcon, they were planning on Deathwing entering Azeroth slightly north of Stormwind, even Blizzard didn't know that since Blizzcon.
I was wondering... is this before or after he becomes the new Guardian of Tirisfal? I assume a shaman needs A LOT of spell power to keep that thing open O.o
Looks like that's what the stone circles are in the major cities; summoning portals that send you to the rock outside the Maelstrom. Very cool! Also very cool to see Thrall taking charge in healing the world. LOK'TAR OGAR!
The Maelstrom as in the one between Kalimdor and the EK? Or a new one? Last I checked, the Maelstrom was from the Great Sundering of the original Well of Eternity, not from Deathwing. If this is the same Maelstrom, how did the vortex redirect into Deepholm? I haven't been following many Cataclysm spoilers, but this piqued my interest.
Deathwing didn't create a new Maelstrom. He passed by the existing one. Because that's where the center of the world is and because that's where Deepholm is comparatively.9
No confirmation, pure speculation. It is the same Maelstorm. The Sundering and all that probably weakened the buffer between dimensions there. I imagine the Maelstorm as a place where dimensions can be forced open (after all, this is what caused the Sundering) and Deathwing was strong enough to pop out there ripping it open. Thrall is there because Deathwing apparently left the door open and we need to take care of business so it can safely be closed without causing another Sundering. A Sundering and a Cataclysm are bad enough for one place. Any more and it will probably make Azeroth into another Outland.
Again, all speculation. Also about it being between EK and Kalimdor... this is probably why you have to take a portal to that location because it is between the two.
The Well of Eternity was created by the Titans long ago, and after the Sundering split the supercontinent of Kalimdor into the continents currently seen in WoW, it became the Maelstrom, a massive storm with a whirlpool at its center. Beneath the Maelstrom, in the eye of the storm, is the Rift, which apparantly can be used as an entrance into Deepholm.
It was never really explained WHY the Titans created it, but it's now probably fairly safe to assume that it was used to imprison the elementals in the Elemental Planes after their war against the Old Gods.
Jul 15th 2010 at 5:00PM 
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 6)
Artificial Jul 16th 2010 3:13AM
@zdave: Um... no. Also, the Washington Monument, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Pillars of Hercules, and the Tower of London are not Stephen King references either. @.@
Biskit333 Jul 16th 2010 4:15AM
Actually I see where he was going with the dark tower thing, there are a lot more similarities than it just being a large free-standing column made of a light absorbing material.
In the series, the Dark Tower was the focal point of the universe, and every universe. It was the central point connecting the "beams" that maintained the laws of physics and the foundation for the world. While the Dark Tower did not exist physically as a tower in all of the universes, it did exist in some form in the key worlds. The Tower was assailed by the Crimson King and his minions in an attempt to throw the worlds into ultimate chaos, erasing all order and substance, and was protected by the last gunslinger of a forgotten age and his compatriots.
In Cataclysm, the World Pillar was at the center of Deepholm and Azeroth, supporting the elemental planes. When broken, it has caused disruptions in the laws of physics (see the floating rocks everywhere) and the foundations of both realms. There is no World Pillar in Azeroth, but it is mirrored in the Maelstrom, which is also the former location of the Well of Eternity, the font which formed the foundation of the magical development of Azeroth. The World Pillar was shattered by Deathwing, and if not for the intervention of Thralls shamanism and the actions of the player characters, the realms would have merged fully, creating massive destruction and chaos.
Intentional or not, there are some very interesting parallels between the Dark Tower of the King mythology and the World Pillar of the Warcraft universe. Whether or not the developers capitalize on this remains to be seen, but in light of their previous work in Wrath of the Lich King (with its many Tolkien references) I hope they do.
zdave Jul 19th 2010 11:28PM
i'm necro'ing this to say thank you Biskit, and suck it Artificial, maybe do some research before just saying things.
Iirdan Jul 20th 2010 11:17AM
@zdave: I'll admit, I did think of that when I heard the term "world pillar". If we get something even remotely resembling Beams, I will be very happy.
Bryan Dare Jul 15th 2010 5:13PM
Must... resist... watching spoilers! >_<
Willpower... fading....
Asa Jul 16th 2010 2:12AM
Dooo eeeet you will find out wtf Thrall is doing!
thall1463 Jul 15th 2010 5:13PM
It makes so much sense now why Thrall has left Garrosh in charge of Orgrimmar. Thrall is too busy KEEPING ALL OF AZEROTH FROM COLLAPSING INTO A GIANT VORTEX OF DESTRUCTION!!!
Bill Jul 15th 2010 5:44PM
No offense.... but we all knew that since Blizzcon...
Tasty Jul 15th 2010 6:56PM
some of us lead sheltered lives
Alanid Jul 15th 2010 6:46PM
@Bill some of us didn't go to Blizzcon, and all that was said was that Garrosh was new Warchief nothing about why Thrall was leaving.
velutina Jul 15th 2010 7:24PM
Varian will still complain that he's not doing it right.
pancakes Jul 15th 2010 11:43PM
Considering the fact that, at Blizzcon, they were planning on Deathwing entering Azeroth slightly north of Stormwind, even Blizzard didn't know that since Blizzcon.
VinÃcius O. E. Jul 16th 2010 6:54PM
I was wondering... is this before or after he becomes the new Guardian of Tirisfal?
I assume a shaman needs A LOT of spell power to keep that thing open O.o
Keiran Jul 15th 2010 5:17PM
Is that Broken guy standing next to the Tauren, at the end of the video Nobundo??? I really hope it is.
kazeko.fuuga Jul 15th 2010 5:38PM
Maybe, but somehow I'd think Nobundo would be in charge if he were there. Then again, he is kind of new to shamanism *relatively*.
Kunikenwad! Jul 15th 2010 5:17PM
Looks like that's what the stone circles are in the major cities; summoning portals that send you to the rock outside the Maelstrom. Very cool! Also very cool to see Thrall taking charge in healing the world. LOK'TAR OGAR!
Nate Jul 15th 2010 5:21PM
The Maelstrom as in the one between Kalimdor and the EK? Or a new one? Last I checked, the Maelstrom was from the Great Sundering of the original Well of Eternity, not from Deathwing. If this is the same Maelstrom, how did the vortex redirect into Deepholm? I haven't been following many Cataclysm spoilers, but this piqued my interest.
Enor Jul 15th 2010 5:29PM
Deathwing didn't create a new Maelstrom. He passed by the existing one. Because that's where the center of the world is and because that's where Deepholm is comparatively.9
icepyro Jul 15th 2010 5:38PM
No confirmation, pure speculation. It is the same Maelstorm. The Sundering and all that probably weakened the buffer between dimensions there. I imagine the Maelstorm as a place where dimensions can be forced open (after all, this is what caused the Sundering) and Deathwing was strong enough to pop out there ripping it open. Thrall is there because Deathwing apparently left the door open and we need to take care of business so it can safely be closed without causing another Sundering. A Sundering and a Cataclysm are bad enough for one place. Any more and it will probably make Azeroth into another Outland.
Again, all speculation. Also about it being between EK and Kalimdor... this is probably why you have to take a portal to that location because it is between the two.
Suzaku Jul 16th 2010 2:16AM
The Well of Eternity was created by the Titans long ago, and after the Sundering split the supercontinent of Kalimdor into the continents currently seen in WoW, it became the Maelstrom, a massive storm with a whirlpool at its center. Beneath the Maelstrom, in the eye of the storm, is the Rift, which apparantly can be used as an entrance into Deepholm.
It was never really explained WHY the Titans created it, but it's now probably fairly safe to assume that it was used to imprison the elementals in the Elemental Planes after their war against the Old Gods.