Twisting Nether
From WoWWiki
Other languages • Portuguese-BR - You may be looking for Darkmoon Card: Twisting Nether or Server:Twisting Nether. Note that the Netherstorm is not the same thing as the Twisting Nether.
The Twisting Nether dimension is separate, but intertwined with the primary material dimension (where your player character lives most of the time). This is not to be confused with the Great Dark (though there seems to be some overlap).
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What is the Twisting Nether?
From chapter 1 of the World of Warcraft story from the official site, the Twisting Nether is described as:
- An ethereal dimension of chaotic magics that connected the myriad worlds of the universe, and
- Home to an infinite number of malefic, demonic beings who sought only to destroy life and devour the energies of the living universe.
The Twisting Nether, though it remains invisible and unknowable, is typically envisioned/theorized as a sort of dimensional net that links all the various worlds of the mortal plane. It is a realm of chaos, where colored, misty clouds and bright streamers mingle into a muted form that teases mortal minds. Innumerable worlds, including Azeroth, exist within the Twisting Nether, and many speculate that its protean energies are the stuff that creates existence. Magic currents are strong in the Nether, for it is demonic magic’s birthplace. Demons have their genesis in the Twisting Nether. They alone control its secrets and master its energies, using it as weapon, armor and cloak. They feel it through its madness, invading planes and whispering dark things to mortals on countless worlds.
Most translocation or teleportation spells are thought to send the user through the Twisting Nether. Examples include the Shaman spell Astral Recall, the Warlock spell Ritual of Summoning, and the Mage collection of portal spells.
Some say that the Titans also live in the Twisting Nether, but since the Burning Legion runs wild and unimpeded in the Nether, it is more likely that they live in some corner of the Great Dark inaccessible from the Nether. Other creatures, made of energy and lunacy, also stem from the Nether's winds. To travelers, the Twisting Nether can be a doorway to other worlds. It is a dangerous path, however; demons and other creatures threaten wanderers, and the plane itself causes the mind to recoil when asked to navigate its wonders. Chaos seethes in the Nether, and only the most powerful can exert control.
The Twisting Nether is sometimes referred to as Hades or Hell and other similar words in sources including the Warcraft [I] manual and the Manual of Monsters. The terms appear to be synonymous and do not have altered meanings.
The Twisting Nether is sometimes described as the realm of death, or realm of spirits, and is thought to be place where spirits of the dead go upon death. This may explain the twisting rotating sky seen in the so called "spirit realm" that players see when they are killed in World of Warcraft. Some quests require the player to die in order to visit this realm to solve requirements. Though the Nether may be considered an afterlife by some, it is only one of a few. Paladins generally are sent to the Holy Light upon death, whereas there is also evidence that Druids spend the afterlife in the Emerald Dream, and it is assumable that Shamans would roam the world with the spirits of the elements.
Things From the Nether
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It is known that the Twisting Nether is the origin of demons, though Medivh once made a comment (that may not be canon any more) that demons had been expelled from the light into the darkness, hinting that they may not have originated from the Nether (or possibly hinting of a certain race of demons who may have had origins similar to the Eredar). Though many demon species have originated from the Nether, other races have become demons and now reside there: Satyr and Eredar.
Along with the demons came the chaotic energies of the nether. Arcane Magic, which has originated from the Nether with numerous other forms of energy, is known to have some drug-like properties in terms of addiction and corrupting nature. Fel, the blood and essence of demons, has originated in the Nether, but it is unknown if it is a product of the creation of demons or vice versa and it is another product of the Nether like Arcane energy is. Also with fel, comes other demonic energies utilized by warlocks. It is thought by some that Shadow may be associated with Fel, demonic energy, or arcane magic; and it may originate in the Twisting Nether. Though it is unlikely that it originates purely in the Nether, as shadow is more concretely associated with evil which is also linked to the demons and fel.
"The ‘Light’ and the ‘Shadow’ are both philosophies of a sort, but they also tap into universal powers that are at play in the cosmos. Good and Evil are real things – not just ideaological distinctions."
~ Chris Metzen, as reported by Xaran Alamas.
In World of Warcraft
Flying too far beyond the edges of Outland brings characters into a region called "Twisting Nether". As of now, the Nether has no particular special purpose and despite the general canon descriptions, it has now special imagery as it appears as the sun rising and setting over a horizon with no visible ground beneath the player were they to fly there. Another way of getting your zone to "Twisting Nether" is to drink "Pure Energy" given to you in a quest in Toshleys Station. (Alliance)
The Twisting Nether does not seem to be part of any region of Outland, similar to how the Veiled Sea is not part of any region of Kalimdor but instead is adjacent to it. The Twisting Nether has its own general and local defense channels.
Note even though the Twisting nether does not seem to be part of Outland, you can explore it with a flying mount and remount if you choose to explore the floating masses on foot. There does not appear to be a fatigue warning as one gets exploring the Veiled Sea. If you fly to far out or too high, you simply get an audible sound indicating that you can't go any farther. For a Druid in flight form the bird makes a screeching noise.
The Twisting Nether and the Great Dark Beyond
According to the Warcraft Encyclopedia entry on the Twisting Nether [1], it is connected to the Great Dark Beyond (the "outer space" of the Warcraft Universe).
The Twisting Nether is the astral plane between worlds. It is a chaotic and magical environment that overlaps with the Great Dark Beyond, yet is normally imperceptible to mortals.
In the Warcraft RPG it states that the Twisting Nether is a part of the Great Dark, their boundaries are imperceptible. The Twisting Nether can be seen (not entered because of its far reach) in Outland above the Hellfire Peninsula also including the planets Azeroth, Argus,and Former Draenor's moon. The Twisting Nether is the glowing chaotic greenness in the sky also seen in Netherstorm.
Based on this description, one might interpret the Twisting Nether as having a similar connection to the Great Dark Beyond as the Emerald Dream does to Azeroth. This idea of a magical representation of physical space meshes well with what is known of the creation of Outland. When Draenor was ripped apart by Ner'zhul's portals, the portion of the world which has become Outland was pulled into the Twisting Nether rather than remaining in the physical realm of the Great Dark Beyond due to the sheer power of the magicks being unleashed.
Other names
The Twisting Nether goes by many names, to some it is the Great Dark and they see no boundaries between it and the Twisting Nether.
To others it is known as the Abyssal Plane, or the Astral Plane.
To some it is known as the underworld, the lower planes, hell, Hades, and even possibly the Dark Below.
Races and creatures
| This article or section contains lore taken from the Warcraft RPG books.
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Note: Many of these creatures are drawn from Warcraft: Shadows & Light sourcebook S&L 152-155.
| Warcraft Universe | |
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| Worlds | Argus • Azeroth • K'aresh • Outland • Xoroth |
| Planes of Existence | Dark Below • Emerald Dream • Great Dark • Twisting Nether |
| Elemental Plane | Abyssal Maw • Deephome • Firelands • Skywall • Frostland |
