Posts with tag blackrock mountain

The World of Warcraft is an expansive universe. You're playing the game, you're fighting the bosses, you know the how -- but do you know the why? Each week, Matthew Rossi and Anne Stickney make sure you Know Your Lore by covering the history of the story behind World of Warcraft.

A while back I did a history of the Pandaren Campaign that just gave a bare bones overview of what exactly happened between patch 5.0 and 5.4 in terms of the story. I understand that nine years of World of Warcraft can't be easily summed up. I don't expect I'll be able to do more than a cursory retelling of the major events, and I'll probably miss and leave out quite a few. So why do it at all?

I have a few reasons. The first is that some of this stuff is gone in game - it happened, but you can't go back and experience it any more. That makes it a part of the game that needs reminders from time to time, in my opinion. The second reason is because all of this lore shapes the game as it evolves - everything that has happened - it helps place things into context. And the third reason is because this stuff is all pretty awesome. It deserves to be retold.

We're going to try and do the game at launch this week, and come back to it on a regular basis.

So let us retell it.

At some point in your WoW adventures, someone is sure to have sent you some of the funny items that are littered all over the game, such as the "Exotic Cookbook" (entitled "How to serve man"), and the "Broken I W.I.N. Button." Not too long ago, a friend of mine sent me one I hadn't seen before, the "Steamy Romance Novel," which really made me chuckle:

As Nahni glided up, the grizzled warrior gave her a hard stare. "I suppose you're here to collect the reward for killing those murlocs?"

Her eyes wandered down to the glowing broadsword at his side. "That depends on what the reward is, Marcus." She twirled her hair playfully, pretending not to notice how he shifted uncomfortably in her presence. "I may not want it."

Marcus stepped toward her, bristling with a mixture of fear and anger. "The reward is not negotiable!" He paused for a moment while gathering his nerve, and pressed himself against her diminutive form. Their lips met hotly, melting her frost armor spell in a torrent of sweltering vapor.

"So, is there another step to this quest?" she teased, her eyes glittering with excitement.

<This goes on for several hundred more pages, without advancing the plot.>

Are there any items in this game that make you smile whenever you think of them? If you can't think of items, perhaps you know of a place or NPC? Tell us about anything you think is funny.

Update: I just can't resist quoting in full some of the things that commenters have found. It's quite silly, and it really should be part of this post anyways. Click on the link to read them.

Reader Valenvaryon of Guns For Hire on Gorgonnash sends in this shot of Blackrock Mountain in the distance. While travelling the pass into Searing Gorge from the Badlands in the morning, you, too, could catch this same vista, which is what passes for a sunrise in these parts.

Do you have a unique shot of Azeroth or Outland that you'd like to show off to the rest of the world? Tell us about it by e-mailing aroundazeroth@gmail.com! Or perhaps you'd just like to see more of your pics from Around Azeroth.

Reader Kyle sends in this excellent shot of the doors leading into Blackrock Mountain. Impressive, no? If nothing else, Dwarven architecture never fails to impress. Through these doors you will find an equally monumental corridor, which will lead you towards the dungeons Blackrock Depths, Blackrock Spire (both upper and lower), Molten Core, and Blackwing Lair. Indeed, before the expansion, these doors led you towards the game's biggest hub of action. Now, like many old dungeons, they're a just novelty.

Do you have a unique shot of Azeroth or Outland that you'd like to show off to the rest of the world? Tell us about it by e-mailing aroundazeroth@gmail.com! Or perhaps you'd just like to see more of your pics from Around Azeroth.

Reader Zhun of Defias Brotherhood sends in this shot showing us the interior of Blackrock Mountain, home of some of Azeroth's favorite dungeons: Blackrock Depths, Blackrock Spire, and Blackwing Lair. And you can't say that you weren't at least a little impressed when you walked into this area for the first time -- with the pool of lava below and the dragon circling ominously overhead, the impression isn't really one of safety...

Do you have a unique shot of Azeroth or Outland that you'd like to show off to the rest of the world? Tell us about it by e-mailing aroundazeroth@gmail.com! You can attach a picture file or send us a link to one -- and don't worry about formatting, we'll take care of that part.

See more of your pics from Around Azeroth.

Reader Alex sends in this excellent shot that, I think, speaks entirely for itself. If you don't recognize the setting, this is one of the ramps leading into Blackrock Mountain, inside of which you find the dungeons Blackrock Depths, Blackrock Spire, Molten Core, and Blackwing Lair -- meaning the area is heavily trafficked by members of both factions. Which means that you probably see a lot of scenes like this one on PvP servers...!

Do you have a unique shot of Azeroth that you'd like to show off to the rest of the world? Tell us about it by e-mailing aroundazeroth@gmail.com! You can attach a picture file or send us a link to one -- and don't worry about formatting, we'll take care of that part. If yours isn't posted immediately, don't fret! Shots are posted (more or less) in the order received, and yours will come up eventually.