| World of Warcraft: The Spider Kingdom | |
|---|---|
 The Spider Kingdom of Azjol-Nerub |
Introduction
The ancient kingdom of Azjol-Nerub flourished for millennia beneath the frozen land of Northrend. The evil Lich King and his Scourge ended the reign of the nerubians, and seized their dead to bolster his fledgling army. The Spider Kingdom is dead... but many powerful forces still battle over it's remains.
When the Cataclysm tore apart Azeroth, the devastation reached even the distant roof of the world. Armies of nerubians began to rise from Azeroth's underworld, laying waste to the surface. For years the nerubian race had been teetering on the edge of extinction, but this new army is vast and innumerable, made up of a new generation of living nerubians. Dedicated to the worship of the Old Gods and to sweeping away the races of the surface world, the nerubians are a deadly power that has erupted back into the world and threaten all living things.
World of Warcraft: The Spider Kingdom will take adventurers into the dark underworld of Azeroth, exploring the hidden depths of the ancient kingdom of Azjol-Nerub... and more. Dread forces have been unleashed by Deathwing's Cataclysm, and primordial horrors from Azeroth's past are on the rise. The Spider Kingdom will be the battleground that these enemies must be fought and defeated on, less they swarm forth and overwhelm the world.
Spider Kingdom Expansion Changes and Updates
Under Construction
- The Spider Kingdom Revealed: New zones have been added - The Upper Kingdom, the Shadow Web Caverns, Ahn'Saron - the Inner Kingdom, and the Wound of the World. These zones are accessed through the Pit of Narjun in Dragonblight.
- The Cataclysm has rent Northrend asunder, altering many of it's regions. The fall of Arthas and the rise of a new Lich King has also brought about a drastic change in the balance of power all across the continent.
- New dungeons and raid instances have been discovered throughout the new Spider Kingdom zones, as well as the newly reshaped Northrend zones.
- New battlegrounds and many new arenas are available.
New Zones
The Spider Kingdom's new high level zones are accessed in Dragonblight, where the Pit of Narjun has become a massive sinkhole, leading deep beneath the surface of Azeroth.
Regions of the Spider Kingdom
The Upper Kingdom: The first region of the Spider Kingdom, accessible through the Pit of Narjun. This vast cavern encompasses underground portions of Dragonblight and beyond. Baelgun Flamebeard and his surviving forces maintain the fortress of Doorward, keeping a close watch on the horrors that lurk in Azeroth's underworld.- Shadow Web Caverns: A vast zone flourishing with the life of Azeroth's underworld. Forests of giant mushrooms blanketed in spider webbing, swamps of phosphorescent plants, and the ever-present temple cities of the nerubians all await exploration.
Ahn'Saron, the Inner Kingdom: The heart of the Spider Kingdom. The temples and palaces of the nerubians stretch as far as the eye can see, and tower far overhead to touch the distant cavern ceiling. The forces of the nerubians and the servants of the Old Gods hold full dominion here.- Wound of the World: Ringed by the other regions of the Spider Kingdom, this great chasm in Azeroth's underworld stretches down into impenetrable darkness. Nerubian structures are built all along the jagged cliffs, and mad whisperings can be heard by any who approach.
Dungeons and Raids
Under Construction
Below are some of the new dungeon and raid instances to be found:
New Dungeons found in Spider Kingdom Zones
- Doorward Underhalls - A dungeon contained in the dwarven stronghold of Doorward. Baelgun Flamebeard and his forces are struggling to keep the monstrous creatures from Azeroth's dark underworld contained.
- Naz'Amun, the Crawling City - In the heart of the Upper Kingdom is the Crawling City, a stronghold of the new generation of nerubians seeking to conquer the surface world.
- Vault of the Titans - A portion of the Vault of Archavon that reaches deep underground. The true treasure of the Vault is sealed inside, and the forces of the Twilight Hammer want it.
- Hanging Tower of Tower of Naz'Zuraq - A massive nerubian tower stretching high above Shadow Web forest.
- Ancient City of Ahn'Vekir - One of the oldest portions of Azjol-Nerub, dating back to the arrival of the nerubians' mysterious ancestors, the aqir.
- Lair of Saron - Beneath the roots of the failed world tree, Vordrassil, lies the lair of the Old God Yogg-Saron. Though it's master is dead, the lair is not empty...
- Halls of Fire - A substructure of Ulduar, which powers the entire complex. Watcher Mimiron has uncovered dire peril to all of Storm Peaks here.
- Halls of Horror - Yogg-Saron was not the only ancient monster that the Titans imprisoned deep within Ulduar. Other horrors yet remain to face.
New Dungeons found in Northrend Zones
- Riplash Ruins - The Cataclysm has uncovered more of these mysterious ruins in the Borean Tundra, and the naga are after their secrets.
New Raids
Tier 1 Raids
- The Necropolis of Nerub - An ancient structure holding the nerubian dead of thousands of years. The remnants of the undead Scourge seek to raise an unstoppable army here.
- Nidhogg's Lair - A titanic proto-dragon has made a home amongst the roots of Vordrassil in Shadow Web Caverns. Only the bravest of adventurers dare face the beast in it's lair.
- Palace of the Spider Queen - The last stronghold of the nerubians. Deep within the Royal Quarter is the queen of the entire sinister race, a creature of terrible power who was ancient when the world was first rocked by the Sundering.
Future Raids
- Utgarde Catacombs - Beneath Utgarde Keep lies an elaborate series of catacombs where the vrykul entombed themselves during their long sleep. The Cataclysm has exposed new areas, and Death Queen Angerboda plans to exploit the slumbering army within.
- The Forbidden City - A dark and unspeakably evil place, built by the nerubians in ancient times and dedicated to the worship of the Old Gods.
Factions and organizations
New end-game factions
- Warders of the Dark - The dwarf Baelgun and his forces have constructed the underground fortress of Doorward that provides access to the deepest reaches of the Spider Kingdom. From here, adventurers can strike out at the ancient enemies that threaten Azeroth.
Northrend Zones affected by the Cataclysm
Under Construction
- Howling Fjord: The Cataclysm has rent apart the southern cliffs, destroying New Agamand. Underground portions of Utgarde Keep have been exposed. Iron Dwarves have disappeared, and the Twilight Hammer has occupied their holdings. The vrykul are led by queen Angerboda, who has become undead. Scourge forces have largely been replaced by Angerboda's followers and the Cult of the Damned. Nerubians have overrun Fort Wildervar.
- Borean Tundra: The Nexus War has come to an end. The blue dragonflight and the Kirin Tor have joined forces to stop the Twilight Hammer from exploiting Azeroth's damaged ley lines. Portions of Azjol-Nerub have been exposed by the Cataclysm.
- Dragonblight: The Pit of Narjun has opened wider, and now leads down to the underground zones of the Spider Kingdom! The death of the Lich King and Deathwing's Cataclysm have wrought many changes in the balance of power in this region.
- Grizzly Hills: The Alliance and the Horde have begun developing this region, but the corruption of Vordrassil has begun to spread despite Yogg-Saron's defeat.
- Zul'Drak: With their gods destroyed, the Drakkari trolls have turned to the worship of new deities, and the Twilight Hammer are all too eager to spread their gospel.
- Sholazar Basin: The Cataclysm has flooded Sholazar Basin, forcing the inhabitants to cooperate in order to survive. Naga have invaded the flooded regions while Twilight Hammer forces have captured the great pillars.
- Storm Peaks: The Earthen have retaken Ulduar, but have come under siege on two fronts - the Twilight Hammer above, and the Faceless Ones from below. The Keepers of Ulduar battle on the front lines to stem the tide of darkness.
- Crystalsong Forest: The Twilight Hammer have arrived in force, and joined together with the rising nerubian menace. Their target: Dalaran.
- Icecrown: The Twilight Hammer and Scourge under the command of the Lich King clash over the war torn glacier. The Cataclysm has caused portions of Azjol-Nerub to breach the surface of Icecrown, releasing nerubians onto the surface.
PvP
New Arenas
Many new arenas and locations to do battle in are available, some familiar, some never before seen.
New arenas include:
- Orgrimmar Ring of Valor
- Ironforge Arena
- Gadgetzan Arena
- Blackrock Depths Stadium
- Dire Maul Arena
- The Outland Battle Rock
- Undermine Stadium
- Azjol-Nerub Arena
Featured Characters
Many new heroes and villains stand poised to clash with familiar champions in the darkness beneath the world.