Broken Isles

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The Broken Isles are a mysterious chain of islands, raised up from the seafloor by Gul'dan, which are located south of the raging Maelstrom. They are located in the South Seas and include about four large islands and about three small islands.^{LoM 67} Many ancient ruins can be found on these islands including the once-mighty night elf city of Suramar. Amazingly, the long-lost Tomb of Sargeras is also located on one of these islands. However, Illidan Stormrage recently stole the Eye of Sargeras from the tomb. The water between the islands is known as Stormreaver Bay as this was the location that Gul’dan and his clan anchored their ships when they were exploring the isles.^{LoM 67} Balor may be a part of the Broken Isles or located near the island chain.

It is stated that 2,000 inhabitants are known to live in the Broken Isles, almost all of them unsavory creatures of various types. They live without a government nor a capital and are under the rule of Tide Priest Harash. There are no major settlements; a few huts and encampments are all that can be found in the way of civilization. They are affiliated with the naga.^{LoM 67}

History

In the distant past Magna Aegwynn, Guardian of Tirisfal, battled the avatar of Sargeras. Knowing that the dark titan's corpse still had power, she sought a safe place to entomb it. Aegwyn placed his body in a tomb and cast it deep into the ocean^{S&L 123} next to the Maelstrom, and in a Kaldorei ruin she had discovered deep beneath the sea, believing it to be secure.^{LoM 69}

Only a few remains of a large island in the Great Sea were left. These isles were of little strategic value, the largest being little more than a mile in length.^{[citation needed]} The Stormreaver clan showed an unusual interest in exploring the isles. The forces of the Stormreaver clan and the Twilight's Hammer clan moved through the isles en masse towards the end of the Second War. It was later discovered that the clans were fortifing a new island upon which Gul'dan had newly raised in order for him to access the Tomb of Sargeras. The newer, larger islands are the Broken Isles of today.

Location

This article or section includes speculation, observations or opinions possibly supported by lore or by Blizzard officials. It should not be taken as representing official lore!

The Broken Isles are apparently being pulled toward the Maelstrom as implied by Lands of Mystery, and it is said they will likely be destroyed at some point by the magical forces of the storm. The explanation that the islands are moving towards the Maelstrom may have been created to explain why the islands seemed to have moved positions in the maps between Warcraft II and III. However, it is also possible that the map in Warcraft II was not to scale.

The island was shown to be halfway between Balor and Kul Tiras in Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness. The map was likely not to scale however, and was just showing areas that were involved in the storyline. Its movement from one location to another is partially explained in Lands of Mystery however, which implies that the storm may be pulling the islands closer to the Maelstrom, and will destroy the islands in time. However, it is also implied that the island was much closer to the Maelstrom than it was shown in the map for Warcraft II when Aegwynn buried Sargeras there. Balor may be a part of the Broken Isles.