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{{Infobox zone
 
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[[File:Yogg-Saron Dungeon Companion.jpg|thumb|Yogg-Saron]]
|ss=Uldum_Artwork.jpg
 
|caption=Artwork for exterior Uldum
 
|name=Uldum
 
|races={{Race|Tol'vir}}<br/>{{Race|Dwarf}}<br/>{{Race|Blood elf}}<br/>{{Race|Gnome}}<br/>{{Race|Human}}<br/>{{RaceIconExt|Pygmy}}[[Pygmy]]<br/>{{Race|Titan}}<br/>{{Race|SandGnome}}<br/>{{Race|Goblin}}<br/>{{Race|Air}}
 
|level=83-84
 
|loc=Southernmost [[Kalimdor]] {{coords|37.6|81.4|Tanaris}}
 
|pop=Unknown
 
|capital=[[Ramkahen]]
 
|major=[[Lost City of the Tol'vir]]<br />[[Orsis]]<br/ >[[Neferset City]]
 
|minor=[[Mar'at]]<br /> [[Schnottz's Landing]]
 
|ruler=[[King Phaoris]] (Ramkahen)<br/>
 
|affiliation=[[Contested]]
 
|resources=
 
}}
 
[[File:Uldum entrance.jpg|thumb|right|The gate to Uldum remained untouched since the beginning of the game's history...]]
 
[[File:New Uldum entrance.jpg|thumb|right|...until the Cataclysm came.]]
 
   
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The '''Old Gods''' (also known as the ''Elder Gods'''<ref>''[[The Sundering]]'', chapter 16: Yet, clearly their addition to the disk’s creation did not hinder the '''Elder Gods''' as it did the dragons.</ref>
:''As with [[Uldaman]] and [[Ulduar]], Uldum houses one of only a few of the known titan constructions, the existence of which predates that of mortal life on Azeroth. For years historians have explored southern Kalimdor for a means of entry into this ancient titan land, searching for more evidence of Azeroth's origins. But the [[Cataclysm]] will change everything, for the façade behind which Uldum has been tucked for millennia will be ruptured, leaving powerful mysteries vulnerable to discovery by the bravest, smartest, or perhaps even most brutal explorers.''
 
  +
, '''old whisperings'''<ref name="Waking">[[quest:Waking Legends]]: ''"Ysera's noble brood has fallen victim to the old whisperings."''</ref>, or the '''old lords of the earth'''<ref>[[quest:The Master's Glaive]]: ''"That cult worships the old, old lords of the earth. Lords defeated long ago."''</ref>) are mysterious, godlike and greatly malefic entities which ruled in tyranny over the infant [[Warcraft universe|universe]] (possibly only Azeroth) before they were sequestered within the primordial world of [[Azeroth]] by the [[Titan|titanic]] [[Pantheon]].
   
  +
The Old Gods existed only as legend even to most dragons, who had been born in the dawn of the world. The dark entities had ruled over a bloody chaos of which even the demon Lords of the [[Burning Legion]] could not imagine. They had ruled over the primal plane until the coming of the [[Titan|world’s creators]]. There had been war of cosmic proportions and, in the end, the Old Gods had fallen. The Old Gods had been cast down into eternal imprisonment, the place of their confinement hidden from all and their
'''Uldum''' (pronounced: /uːl'duːm/), also known as "'''the Land of the Titans'''", is an ancient desert located on the southern coast of [[Kalimdor]], surrounded by the [[Un'Goro Crater]] in the north, [[Tanaris Desert]] in the east and [[Silithus]] in the northwest. It is the homeland of stone-cat people known as [[Tol'vir]] and is rich with [[Titan]] lore.
 
  +
powers bound until the end of time. Nevertheless the Old Gods had somehow found a manner by which to reach out to the mortal plane and seek that which would free them.<ref>''[[The Sundering]]'', chapter 10</ref>
 
A superweapon is rumored to exist in Uldum which the Alliance, Horde and Deathwing's minions seek. However there exist no super weapon - Uldum ''is'' the weapon, intended to wipe out all life on Azeroth in case [[Algalon the Observer]]'s [[Reply-Code Omega]] went through to the [[titan]]s.<ref>{{ref web|url=http://g4tv.com/videos/50255/Uldum-Guide---WoW-Cataclysm/|title=Uldum Guide - WoW: Cataclysm|date=2010-12-08|accessdate=2010-12-31|publisher=G4tv.com}}</ref>
 
   
 
==History==
 
==History==
  +
===Planar origins===
Fragments of notes unearthed from [[Bael Modan]] suggest that a great [[titan]] [[city]] lies deep within the rocky expanse of the southern desert. So far, dwarven expeditions have yet to track down the location of Uldum, but they are confident that it's only a matter of time.<ref>''[[Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game]]'', 211</ref> Uldum is a research facility for the titans in their continuing efforts to enhance the biosphere of Azeroth. Specific information regarding their work as it relates to Uldum is unknown and can only be accessed with the [[Plates of Uldum]].<ref>[[Stone Watcher of Norgannon]]</ref>
 
  +
The Old Gods ruled over the primal [[plane]] until the coming of the titans.<ref>''[[The Sundering]]'', 156</ref> There are more Old Gods than just the ones trapped on Azeroth. It takes a lot for them to become manifested on a physical plane, however.<ref>[[Ask CDev]]</ref>
   
  +
===Ordering of Azeroth===
Uldum was mentioned in the legends of Azeroth, but its location long remained a mystery. [[Brann Bronzebeard]] mentioned in his travelogue, ''[[Lands of Mystery]]'', that he searched for it all over Tanaris, but could never find it. He wondered if it could just be another name for the Caverns of Time, but he didn't know for sure.<ref>''[[Lands of Mystery]]'', 59</ref> However, his assumption proved to be false, as Uldum is actually located on the southern edge of the continent, and it was hidden by some sort of [[Titan]] cloaking device. The [[Cataclysm (event)|Cataclysm]] damaged the device, and unveiled the long forgotten, mysterious land.
 
  +
Before the titans came to Azeroth, the malign Old Gods - colossal beings of elemental fury - ruled the world and the savage elementals that dwelt upon it, a bloody chaos of which even the demon Lords of the [[Burning Legion]] could not imagine.<ref name="TS 157">''[[The Sundering]]'', 157</ref><ref>''[[Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game]]'', 155</ref>
   
  +
Along the journey of the [[Titan]]s they came upon Azeroth. As the Titans made their way across the primordial landscape, they encountered a number of the hostile elemental beings. These elementals vowed to drive the Titans in the name of their masters back and keep their world inviolate from the invaders' metallic touch. The Pantheon, disturbed by the Old Gods' penchant for evil, waged war upon the elementals and their dark masters. The Old Gods' armies were led by the most powerful elemental lieutenants: [[Ragnaros the Firelord]], [[Therazane the Stonemother]], [[Al'Akir the Windlord]], and [[Neptulon the Tidehunter]]. Their chaotic forces raged across the face of the world and clashed with the colossal Titans. Though the elementals were powerful beyond mortal comprehension, their combined forces could not stop the mighty Titans. One by one, the elemental lords fell, and their forces dispersed.<ref>[[The Old Gods and the Ordering of Azeroth]]</ref> A battle between a titan and the Old God [[C'Thun]] raged in [[Silithus]]. The titan fell and it was thought that C'Thun had also fallen - but he survived unnoticed by the titans. For millennia this being lay dormant beneath the world - biding its time. From its prison it waited for the exact moment at which to strike back at those that would see it harmed.<ref name=prophecy>[[The Prophecy of C'Thun]]</ref>
It is notable however that the dungeon release order in ''World of Warcraft'' somehow mirrors Brann's journey to some degree, in that Brann has visited Ulduar after Uldaman, but until recently had not yet reached Uldum.
 
   
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The Pantheon shattered the Old Gods' citadels and casted the remaining ones down into eternal imprisonment deep beneath the earth, the place of their confinement hidden from all and their powers bound until the end of time.<ref name="TS 157">''[[The Sundering]]'', 157</ref><ref>''[[Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game]]'', 155</ref> [[Yogg-Saron]] was sealed away within the depths of [[Ulduar]] in the far northern reaches of the infant world, and had six watchers assigned to it which served as wardens for its near eternal imprisonment.<ref>[http://eu.battle.net/wow/en/game/patch-notes/3-1 Secrets of Ulduar]</ref> Without the Old Gods' power to keep their raging spirits bound to the physical world, the elementals were banished to an [[Elemental Plane|abyssal plane]], where they would contend with one another for all eternity. With the elementals' departure, nature calmed, and the world settled into a peaceful harmony. The Titans saw that the threat was contained and set to work.<ref>[[The Old Gods and the Ordering of Azeroth]]</ref>
[[Prospector Gunstan]] maintained a lonely vigil near the outside gates on behalf of the [[Explorers' League]]. Since then, he has been joined by a number of his fellow explorers, with the rival blood elven [[Reliquary]] setting up camp nearby.
 
   
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During that time the [[Curse of Flesh]] has been created by the Old Gods to "facilitate assimilation". The Curse of Flesh affected many [[titan]]ic creations<ref>History on common [[tol'vir]] [[archaeology]] artifacts</ref>, notably the [[dwarf|dwarves]]. The curse changed the structure and appearance of these races from their original stony/metallic forms into the fleshy forms we know of today.<ref name="ToA">[[Tribunal_of_Ages#Quotes|Quotes from Tribunal of Ages]]</ref> The [[titan]]s attempted to remove the curse (and the Old Gods), but found that the Old God infestation had grown too severe to remove without completely destroying Azeroth. Instead they bound the Old Gods within Azeroth.<ref name="ToA"/>
{{Seealso|Ruins of Uldum}}
 
   
==Geography==
+
===Whispers===
  +
Since the dawn of life on [[Azeroth]], the imprisoned and sleeping Old Gods have been whispering to the subconsciousness of mortal and [[Eternal|eternal]] beings alike, subverting their thoughts and feelings, and sometimes driving them to great malice, complete insanity, or both.<ref>{{ref web |url= http://worldofwarcraft.com/info/story/chapter1.html#3 |title= The Old Gods and the Ordering of Azeroth |accessdate=2007-12-06}}</ref><ref>{{ref web |url= http://worldofwarcraft.com/info/story/chapter2.html#12 |title= The Founding of Quel'Thalas |accessdate=2007-12-06}}</ref><ref>{{ref book |author= Knaak, Richard A. |authorlink= Richard A. Knaak |title= [[The Sundering]]
The landscape of Uldum is predominately desert, with a large river surrounded by an oasis flowing through the center of the region, mostly populated by the [[Tol'vir]], with the largest settlement - the [[Lost City of Tol'vir|Lost City]] located on the river delta. The western part of Uldum consists of a large expanse of the wind-swept dunes with half-buried Tol'vir settlements and pyramids, caused by the recent transgressions of [[Al'Akir]]'s air elemental minions. In the east lies a massive pyramid that houses the [[Titan]] complex known as the [[Halls of Origination]]. The northwestern part is the location of the [[Obelisk of the Stars]] and [[Gate of Unending Cycles|The Gate of Unending Cycles]] connecting the region with [[Tanaris]] desert. The southern part of the region besides the river delta is mostly cliffs, with settlements held by the [[Neferset]]. The southwestern part is being held by an expedition led by [[Commander Schnottz]]. The Cataclysm also brought the [[Skywall]] towers into Uldum that serve as an entrance to the Al'Akir's domain - the [[elemental plane]] of air. Al'Akir sends his elemental minions to convince the Tol'vir to join his new liege [[Deathwing]], even rewarding them with removal of the [[Curse of Flesh]]. Those who dared to oppose suffered dire consequences as exampled in the [[Orsis]] settlement.
 
  +
|isbn= 978-0-7434-2898-9 }}</ref>
   
  +
The most notorious and tragic victim of the Old Whisperings is [[Neltharion the Earth-Warder]]; the once mighty [[Dragon Aspect]] who had been empowered by the [[Titan]] [[Khaz'goroth]] with dominion over the deep places of the world. Yet, not even Neltharion's great wisdom and power proved capable of breaking the grip the Old Whisperings had on his mind, causing the Earth-Warder to eventually lose all his sanity. Neltharion renamed himself [[Deathwing]], seeking the genocide of all non-draconic life as well as the enslavement of the other dragonflights.<ref>[http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/cataclysm/features/lore.html;jsessionid=87454436A3FB5FF01063CB389120354C.blade24_02 Faces of Cataclysm: Deathwing]</ref>
The animals that live there are [[scorpid]]s, [[hyena]]s, [[camel]]s and more. Notable animals include the large scorpion himself, [[Madexx]].
 
   
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The [[night elves]] [[Malfurion Stormrage]] and [[Varo'then]] momentarily heard the Whisperings when they held the [[Demon Soul]] in their grasp. Malfurion has since stated that "[[Green dragonflight|Ysera's noble brood]] has [[The Nightmare|fallen victim]] to the Old Whisperings", as well.<ref name="Waking" /> The [[Highborne]] [[Queen Azshara]] is said to have heard the Whisperings moments before what would have been [[Great Sundering|her death]], causing her and her Highborne people to transform into the monstrous [[Naga]]-- an offer they either accepted willingly to avoid their fate or which has been coerced on them.<ref>''[[The Sundering]]'', 332-3</ref> The remainder of the surviving Highborne who made landfall in the [[Tirisfal Glade]]s are rumored to have succumbed to insanity after hearing these same Whisperings.<ref>[http://us.battle.net/wow/en/game/lore/story-so-far/chapter-2/1 The History of Warcraft Chapter II: The New World]</ref>
===Map and subregions===
 
[[File:WorldMap-Uldum.jpg|thumb|300px|Uldum map]]
 
   
  +
The most striking historic account of the Old Whisperings however is found within the ancient scrolls of lore of the [[Tauren]] tribes, kept at [[Elder Rise]] in their capital city of [[Thunder Bluff]]. The legend of creation of the formerly nomadic Tauren makes direct reference to the Whisperings, stating that the first incidents of Tauren having committed acts of deceit, murder or warfare were because some among their early brethren "''harkened to the dark whispers from deep beneath the world.''"<ref>[[Sorrow of the Earthmother]]: ''"As the children of the earth roamed the fields of dawn, they hearkened to dark whispers from the deep beneath the world."''</ref>
{| class="darktable"
 
|-
 
|[[Akhenet Fields]]{{·}} [[Chamber of the Moon]]{{·}} [[Chamber of the Stars]]{{·}} [[Chamber of the Sun]]{{·}} [[Cradle of the Ancients]]{{·}} [[Cursed Landing|The Cursed Landing]]{{·}} [[Gate of Hamatep]]{{·}} [[Gate of Unending Cycles|The Gate of Unending Cycles]]{{·}} [[Khartut's Tomb]]{{·}} [[Lost City of the Tol'vir]]{{·}} [[Maker's Ascent]]{{·}} [[Mar'at]]{{·}} [[M.A.C. Diver]]{{·}} [[Nahom]]{{·}} [[Neferset City]]{{·}} [[Neferset City Outskirts]]{{·}} [[Oasis of Vir'sar]]{{·}} [[Obelisk of the Moon]]{{·}} [[Obelisk of the Stars]]{{·}} [[Obelisk of the Sun]]{{·}} [[Orsis]]{{·}} [[Pit of Scales|The Pit of Scales]]{{·}} [[Ramkahen]]{{·}} [[Ramkahen Legion Outpost]]{{·}} [[Ruins of Ahmtul]]{{·}} [[Ruins of Ammon]]{{·}} [[Ruins of Khintaset]]{{·}} [[Sakhet Wastes]]{{·}} [[Schnottz's Landing]]{{·}} [[Steps of Fate|The Steps of Fate]]{{·}} [[Sunstone Terrace]]{{·}} [[Sunwatcher's Ridge]]{{·}} [[Surveyors' Outpost]]{{·}} [[Temple of Uldum]]{{·}} [[Threshold|The Threshold]]{{·}} [[Throne of the Four Winds]]{{·}} [[Tomb of the Sun King]]{{·}} [[Tombs of the Precursors]]{{·}} [[Trail of Devastation|The Trail of Devastation]]{{·}} [[Vir'naal Dam]]{{·}} [[Vir'naal River]]{{·}} [[Vortex Pinnacle|The Vortex Pinnacle]]
 
|}
 
   
===Dungeons===
+
===Recent history===
  +
10,000 years later the Old Gods invaded [[Nozdormu|Nozdormu's]] realm and managed to open a rift in time, that, as they had planned, tossed some beings back through time, beings that would change the way the war of the ancients took place, and give Sargeras a new chance to enter the world, and therefore give them a new chance to set themselves free. Their plans were although again crushed by the very same Malfurion Stormrage.<ref>''[[The Sundering]]'', Prologue</ref>
{| class="darktable zebra"
 
!Instance name
 
!Level range
 
!Group size
 
!Approximate run time
 
|-
 
|{{portal|Vortex Pinnacle|cata}} || 82-84
 
|5-player
 
|Unknown
 
|-
 
|{{portal|Lost City of the Tol'vir|cata}} || 85
 
|5-player
 
|Unknown
 
|-
 
|{{portal|Halls of Origination|cata}} || 85
 
|5-player
 
|Unknown
 
|-
 
|{{portal|Throne of the Four Winds|raid}} || 85+
 
|10/25-player
 
|Unknown
 
|}
 
   
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The [[Blackfathom Deeps]] in Ashenvale was once, long ago, a temple to Elune. The Great Sundering ruined the temple and left it submerged in water and buried under rock. Corruption from the Old Gods seeped up and tainted the sacred moonwell.<ref name="DF 164">''[[Dark Factions]]'', 164</ref> One may be in the Blackfathom Deeps.<ref>''[[Lands of Mystery]]'', 8</ref><ref>''[[Horde Player's Guide]]'', 169</ref> ''Hints that old gods lie in or under the Blackfathom Deeps. Not to be confused with Aku'mai who was only influenced by the powers of the Old Gods.''
===Travel hubs===
 
====Flight paths====
 
*{{Neutral}} [[Flight path]]s from [[Oasis of Vir'sar]]
 
**{{Neutral}} [[Cenarion Hold]], [[Silithus]]
 
**{{Neutral}} [[Ramkahen]], Uldum
 
**{{Neutral}} [[Schnottz's Landing]], Uldum
 
*{{Neutral}} [[Flight path]]s from [[Ramkahen]]
 
**{{Horde}} [[Dawnrise Expedition]], [[Tanaris]]
 
**{{Alliance}} [[Gunstan's Dig]], [[Tanaris]]
 
**{{Neutral}} [[Oasis of Vir'sar]], Uldum
 
**{{Neutral}} [[Schnottz's Landing]], Uldum
 
**(There is no flightpath directly from [[Ramkahen]] to [[Gadgetzan]] in Tanaris, so if your character has not picked up the {{Horde}} [[Dawnrise Expedition]] or {{Alliance}} [[Gunstan's Dig]] flightpoint in Tanaris yet you may want to do it ''before'' starting the Uldum introduction questline.)
 
*{{Neutral}} [[Flight path]]s from [[Schnottz's Landing]]
 
**{{Neutral}} [[Oasis of Vir'sar]], Uldum
 
**{{Neutral}} [[Ramkahen]], Uldum
 
   
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According to [[Malfurion Stormrage]], one of the Old Gods is behind the [[Emerald Nightmare|Nightmare]] corrupting the [[Emerald Dream]]. Although the Nightmare Lord in the dream turned out to be the Satyr Lord [[Xavius]], it is suspected that he was working for higher powers. This seems to be confirmed in ''[[World of Warcraft: Cataclysm]]''.<ref>[[N'Zoth]]</ref>
===Adjacent regions===
 
{| class="darktable"
 
|-
 
!Zone Name
 
!Faction
 
!Level Range
 
!Direction
 
!Access
 
|-
 
|[[Tanaris]] || {{Alliance}}{{Horde}} || 45-50
 
|Northeast || By foot or by flying
 
|-
 
|[[Un'Goro Crater]] || {{Alliance}}{{Horde}} || 50-55
 
|North || By flying
 
|-
 
|[[Silithus]] || {{Alliance}}{{Horde}} || 55-60
 
|Northwest || By flying
 
|-
 
|[[Ahn'Qiraj: The Fallen Kingdom]] || {{Alliance}}{{Horde}} || N/A
 
|West || By flying
 
|}
 
   
  +
[[File:Master's Glaive.jpg|thumb|The [[Master's Glaive]] contains the remains of a [[forgotten one]].]]
===Portals===
 
There are portals to Uldum from the earthshrines in [[Stormwind]] and [[Orgrimmar]]. They unlock after players wind up in [[Ramkahen]] after completing the [[Uldum quests#Escape and retribution|first few mandatory quests]] starting with {{quest|Easy Money}} from [[Adarrah]] in [[Tanaris]].
 
   
  +
==Strength==
There are no portals from Uldum back to Stormwind/Orgrimmar, however. So pick up the flight paths or hearth out.
 
  +
[[Krasus]] speculated that should the Old Gods open the gates of their prison even [[Sargeras]] would find himself pleading for the peace of death. Krasus further thought that the [[Aspects]] were the most powerful creatures on all the mortal plane. So if anyone had a chance against the Old Gods, it was them. Combined all five of the Aspects represented a force capable of defeating the elder beings.<ref>''[[The Sundering]]'', chapter 10: "The Old Ones were creating the key that would open the gates of their prison…and if that happened, even Sargeras would find himself pleading for the peace of death."</ref>
   
  +
Nevertheless the Old Gods are neither omniscient nor omnipotent. The benevolent titans, though not gods themselves, cast a magical slumber upon the Old Gods and imprisoned them far below the surface of the world. It is possible for a Old God to exert influence over several locations simultaneously. Yet the power of a god is limited. Otherwise, of course, the Old Gods could not have been imprisoned. Nonetheless, an imprisoned, sleeping, or otherwise enfeebled god may still have an effect--conscious or not--on the god's surroundings. The development of the [[qiraji]] is said to be the result of just such an incidental influence. Can one ever truly destroy a god, putting a lasting end to its existence? Unfortunately that question has departed the realm of philosophy and become a matter of vital concern.<ref>[http://www.wow-europe.com/en/info/encyclopedia/417.xml The Warcraft Encyclopedia: Gods]</ref>
==Notable characters==
 
[[Image:Cata-UldumDamNight.jpg|right|thumb|[[Vir'naal Dam]] at night]]
 
{{seealso|Uldum NPCs}}
 
*{{RaceIcon|Human|Female}} [[Adarrah]]
 
*{{RaceIcon|BloodElf|Male}} [[Belloc Brightblade]]
 
*{{RaceIconExt|Brann}} [[Brann Bronzebeard]]
 
*{{RaceIcon|Human|Male}} [[Budd Nedreck]]
 
*{{RaceIcon|Goblin|Male}} [[Commander Schnottz]]
 
*{{RaceIcon|Human|Male}} [[Harrison Jones]]
 
*{{RaceIconExt|Ramkahen}} [[Prince Nadun]]
 
*{{RaceIconExt|Ramkahen}} [[King Phaoris]]
 
*{{RaceIconExt|Djinni}} [[Siamat]]
 
   
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The Old Gods are unfathomable to mortal minds. They seem to delight in chaos, anarchy and constant elemental warfare, pitting the enormously powerful elemental lords against one another seemingly as a form of amusement. The Burning Legion under Sargeras has a twisted ethos that maintains that all existence is a mistake and that all things should be reduced back to entropic nothingness; in contrast, the Old Gods have no ethos, no morality and operate through a raw amorality (one might even say they transcend things like motives and ethics) that seeks nothing more than endless, meaningless, motiveless destruction for its own sake. Under the Old Gods rule, nothing like a society or civilization could ever arise. It's telling that even their former servitors, the Elemental Lords, do not seek their return or serve them willingly. Today, the Old Gods on Azeroth often operate through the [[Twilight's Hammer cult]], who seek the ultimate destruction of the world.<ref>[http://wow.joystiq.com/2010/07/21/know-your-lore-the-old-gods/ WoW Insider: Know your lore: The Old Gods]</ref>
==Quests==
 
{{Main|Uldum quests}}
 
   
==Resources==
+
==Number==
  +
Depending on the source, three, four, or five Old Gods lie imprisoned. Some of these sources seem to imply that these numbers were the limit to the number of Old Gods. The roleplaying game seems to imply that there were more than five Old Gods, including those imprisoned or killed.
*Herbalism
 
  +
*The [[Warcraft III]] manual states that five Old Gods were chained beneath the world.<ref>[[Warcraft III]] manual, page 79</ref>
**[[Cinderbloom]]
 
  +
*The Pantheon shattered the Old Gods' citadels and chained the five evil gods far beneath the surface of the world.<ref>[http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/story/chapter1.html;jsessionid=CC38110A35EC80C14861CBF1CB4598BD.app05_06#3 History of Azeroth]</ref><ref>[http://www.blizzard.com/support/wowgm/?id=agm01338p ''Warcraft'' Lore FAQ 1]</ref>
**[[Whiptail]]
 
  +
*According to the ''[[War of the Ancients Trilogy]]'', there are three Old Gods still living, imprisoned and chained by the Titans deep beneath the surface of Azeroth. There may be more however, these three are indicated to have formed some sort of alliance in order to escape their imprisonment.<ref name="TS 157" />
*Mining
 
  +
*According to "[[The Old Gods and the Ordering of Azeroth]]", four Old Gods were imprisoned beneath the world. This could perhaps be reconciled with the War of the Ancients trilogy if it were taken to include the fallen C'Thun in the count of the imprisoned Gods. This is however unlikely as C'thun was believed dead and not imprisoned. Note that the version of this chapter presented in the story section of the official site does not reference the number of Old Gods.<ref>http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/story/chapter1.html#3</ref>
**[[Elementium Ore]]
 
  +
*"There are more Old Gods than just the ones trapped on Azeroth. It takes a lot for them to become manifested on a physical plane, however."<ref>{{ref web|url=http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=25626575587&sid=1|title=World of Warcraft Forums - Ask CDev #1 Answers|accessdate=2010-06-30}}</ref> The [[Summoned Old God]] is one of these others.
**[[Pyrite Ore]]
 
   
  +
In the [[Burning Crusade]] expansion, a group of [[Arakkoa]] known as the [[Dark Conclave]] attempted to summon an entity described as an "[[Summoned Old God|ancient and powerful evil]]" into [[Outland]]. It is nearly identical in appearance to the first named Old God, [[C'Thun]]. Apparently, it is an Old God which never landed on Azeroth.<ref>[[Ask CDev]]</ref>
==Wild creatures==
 
The fauna of Uldum is not widely known to the outsiders because of the long-timed isolation of the region from the outside world.
 
   
  +
==Named==
*[[Camel]]s
 
 
===C'Thun===
*[[Lion]]s
 
  +
{{Main|C'Thun}}
*[[Crocolisk]]s
 
  +
[[File:Cthun-p2.jpg|thumb|C'Thun, the first named Old God.]]
*[[Scorpion]]s
 
  +
C'Thun was the first of the three Old Gods to be named, having received this name from its creations; the [[Qiraji]]. C'Thun was struck down in the region known as [[Silithus]] during the dawning of the world, in a battle which is said to also have resulted in the "falling" of a [[Titan]]. C'Thun was believed to have been slain permanently by the Titans, but the Old God resurfaced over the course of history as the driving force behind the Qiraji. It is trapped deep beneath the ruined temples of [[Ahn'Qiraj]], where it has exerted its will for thousands of years over its Qiraji avatars, who in turn command the [[Silithid]] swarm.
   
  +
C'Thun is the final boss in the [[Temple of Ahn'Qiraj]].
==Mysteries In The Sands==
 
{{Book|Uldum|height=29em|align=left|content=<br/>I'm not a prophet; I'm just a gnome who trusts her gut. After the first small tremors started shaking Azeroth, my instincts told me that something even bigger was on its way. Unfortunately, no one else in [[Gadgetzan]] shared my healthy paranoia of the coming apocalypse. The old codgers in the just snickered behind my back when I decided to live in the skies over [[Tanaris]] aboard my trusty frying machine, only coming down for food and fuel when absolutely necessary. When the "big one" finally hit as I'd predicted, they weren't laughing anymore.
 
   
  +
===Yogg-Saron===
As the dunes around Gadgetzan rose and fell in the waves, all those skeptics were crying like babies while I was safe and sound high in the sky. But I didn't expect what happened next: just over the mountains in southern Tanaris, land appeared out of thin air. Not ''just'' land, but some kind of civilization with towering obelisks and pyramids covered in strange symbols. A thought ran through my head that this might be the legendary region of Uldum. I wrote the idea off as harebrained until dozen of would-be adventures started showing up in Gadgetzan, whispering Uldum's name and babbling on about treasure hoards hidden with the area.
 
  +
{{Main|Yogg-Saron}}
  +
[[File:Yoggsaron.jpg|thumb|Yogg-Saron, "the lucid dream".]]
  +
Described by the demigod [[Ursoc]] as "''the beast with a thousand maws''", Yogg-Saron was the second Old God to be explicitly named such. The dire entity refers to itself in ways as "''the lucid dream''", "'''''the''' god of death''" or "''the '''true face''' of death''", and appears to secrete a substance named [[Saronite]] across [[Northrend]] which is capable of driving any that have been exposed to it to murderous insanity. [[Slinkin the Demo-gnome]] discovered shortly before his demise that a mysterious connection seemed to exist between the Old God Yogg-Saron and the [[undead]] [[Scourge]]. In his final note, he claimed to have overheard some of the undead uttering the name "Yogg-Saron" with a tone of tremendous hatred and contempt, which was usually followed by outbursts of rage from other undead. Yet, the Scourge appeared to be mining for Saronite on an industrial scale.
   
  +
Yogg-Saron's underground prison extends through much of east-central Northrend; his influence has been felt directly in the [[Grizzly Hills]] ([[Vordrassil]], the Grizzlemaw Furbolgs and Ursoc), [[Dragonblight]] ([[Ahn'kahet: The Old Kingdom]], with [[faceless one]]s and a sect of the [[Twilight's Hammer]] dedicated to Yogg-Saron) and the [[Storm Peaks]] ([[Ulduar]], and the corrupted Titanic guardian [[Loken]]). The Old God is located within [[Prison of Yogg-Saron|his prison]] deep inside Ulduar, and is the final boss of the raid instance, much as [[C'Thun]] was the final boss in [[Ahn'Qiraj]].
With all these fresh faces around, I've been making a fortune selling aerial tours over the mountains near Uldum. More importantly, those disbelievers who treated me like a nut before the quake hit have begun show me the respect I deserve. If they keep it up, I might just offer them one of my tours...maybe even at a discount!
 
   
  +
===N'Zoth===
-[[Kleesa Gerspring]] of Gadgetzan.}}<ref>''[[The Art of Cataclysm]]'' ,</ref>
 
  +
{{Main|N'Zoth}}
  +
The third Old God to be named, [[N'Zoth]], was confirmed during Blizzcon 2010 to be the source of the [[Emerald Nightmare]], which has twisted large segments of the [[Emerald Dream]] along with its corresponding regions in the waking world. N'Zoth makes several indirect appearances in [[World of Warcraft: Cataclysm]] during quest chains in the [[Vashj'ir]] zone, and the story implies it to be the driving force behind the [[naga]] and the faceless ones. During Blizzcon 2010's Quests and Lore panel, [[Chris Metzen]] also mentioned that N'Zoth may be the one "signing [[Deathwing]]'s checks", adding the remark that this Old God is "a real problem".
   
==Speculation==
+
==Mortal worship==
  +
{{main|Old Gods' forces‎}}
{{Speculation}}
 
  +
Large groups of the [[Twilight's Hammer]] have been observed to settle at or near sites where they believe the Old Gods or their minions are sealed away; many await C'Thun's awakening in [[Silithus]], while others appear to serve [[Ragnaros]] in the [[Blackrock Depths]] alongside the [[Dark Iron dwarves]].<ref>''[[Horde Player's Guide]]'', 169</ref> The largest concentrations of the Twilight's Hammer however are located at [[Grim Batol]] and within the [[Bastion of Twilight]], in a region of the [[Eastern Kingdoms]] that is now referred to as the [[Twilight Highlands]].
It is said that Uldum was one of the three ancient halls in which the [[earthen]] (the ancestors of the [[dwarves]]) were left to sleep by their titan creators.<ref>[[Ironforge - the Awakening of the Dwarves]]</ref> Similar locations exist at [[Uldaman]] and [[Ulduar]]; additionally, a fourth location, [[Maraudon]], is the location of [[Terramok]], an ancient titan vault.
 
   
==Gallery==
+
==Quotes==
  +
:''See also: [[C'thun#The Whispers of C'Thun|The Whispers of C'Thun]] and [[Yogg-Saron#The Whispers of Yogg-Saron|The Whispers of Yogg-Saron]]''
  +
  +
===Whispers to Neltharion===
  +
{{Main|Deathwing}}
  +
  +
*"The [[night elf|night elves]] will destroy the world..."
  +
*"[[Well of Eternity|The Well]] is out of control..."
  +
*"No one can be trusted... they want your secrets, your power..."
  +
*"[[Malygos]] would take what is yours..."
  +
*"[[Alexstrasza]] seeks dominion over you..."
  +
*"They are no better than [[Burning Legion|the demons]]..."
  +
*"They must be dealt with like the demons..."
  +
  +
===Whispers to Azshara===
 
{{Main|Queen Azshara}}
  +
  +
*"There is [[Naga|a way]]... there is a way..."
  +
*"You will become more than you ever were... more than you ever were..."
  +
*"We can help... we can help..."
  +
*"You will be more than you have ever been... and when the time comes, for what we grant you... you will serve us well..."
  +
  +
==Notes==
  +
The creatures designated as the Old Gods are said to be parasitic, necrophotic symbiotes.<ref>[[Tribunal of Ages#Quotes]]</ref>
  +
  +
==Inspiration==
  +
The names and overall nature of the Old Gods are an homage to the various group of deities from the Cthulhu Mythos in the works of [[wikipedia:H.P. Lovecraft|H.P. Lovecraft]] (first stage), [[wikipedia:Brian Lumley|Brian Lumley]] (third stage), and the ''Call of Cthulhu'' RPG.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZXXbyhXlF4&feature=related Blizzcon 2010: Art Panel HD Part 2]</ref> C'Thun appears to be based on Cthulhu and Yogg-Saron appears to be based on the [[wikipedia:Outer God|Outer God]] [[wikipedia:Yog-Sothoth|Yog-Sothoth]]. Furthermore, the story which concerns the Titans' imprisoning of the Old Gods is an inspiration from the story [[wikipedia:August Derleth|August Derleth]] proposed as the ancient outcome of the war between the Elder Gods (represented in the [[Titans]]) and the Outer Gods (represented in the Old Gods). Interestingly, the origin of the Titans is alien to Azeroth, while the Old Gods are native to it, swapping the names and some facts. An alternative name of the Old Gods is the Elder Gods.
  +
  +
==Fan art==
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
  +
File:OldGods.png|Fan art - Full body of C'thun.
File:Uldum statues.jpg|There are more statues in Uldum than Stormwind.
 
  +
File:Oldgod2.jpg|Fan art - Full body of C'thun.
File:Ramkahen_by_Nightfall.jpg|City of [[Ramkahen]] and the surrounding areas by the sunset.
 
File:UldumAW2.jpg|Concept art
+
File:Yogg-Saron Blizzard com.jpg|Fan art of Yogg-Saron.
File:UldumAW3.jpg|Concept art
 
File:UldumZone.jpg|Concept map of Uldum from Blizzcon
 
File:Uldum gate cata.jpg|Tanaris - updated Uldum gate
 
File:Tanaris 070910 014812 - Uldum - Kirkburn 12319.jpg|Tanaris - Ruins of Uldum
 
File:Tanaris Uldum entrance.jpg|Uldum zone entrance
 
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
   
==Videos==
+
==See also==
  +
*[[The Old Gods and the Ordering of Azeroth]]
<youtube>_Et0hRceLpQ</youtube>
 
  +
*[[Tribunal_of_Ages#Quotes|Tribunal of Ages]]
<youtube>dfE4jQE_rc0</youtube>
 
  +
*[[Prophecy of C'Thun]]
Introduction to starting quests:<br>
 
  +
*[[Lorgalis_Manuscript#Contains|Lorgalis Manuscript]]
<youtube>Kl6iAipJdHg</youtube>
 
 
*[[Aqir]]
 
 
*[[Naga]]
<youtube>bpnHY646fwk</youtube>
 
  +
*[[Twilight's Hammer]]
<youtube>gEgtLbfGDdM</youtube>
 
  +
*[[Elemental Lieutenants]]
   
 
==References==
 
==References==
{{Reflist}}
+
{{reflist}}
 
==External links==
 
{{elink|link=http://franksplace.org/2010/12/world-of-warcraft-cataclysm-zone-portal-faq/|site=FranksPlace.org|desc=Cataclysm Zone Portals Guide}}
 
   
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{{eternals}}
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{{Old Gods}}
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{{religions}}
   
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[[fr:Dieux Très Anciens]]
{{Uldum}}
 
{{Tanaris}}
 
{{Kalimdor}}
 
{{Dungeons|Cataclysm}}
 
{{Titans}}
 
[[Category:Uldum| ]]
 
[[Category:Titans]]
 
[[Category:Cities]]
 
[[Category:Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game]]
 
[[Category:Lands of Mystery]]
 
[[es:Uldum]]
 
[[fr:Uldum]]
 

Revision as of 14:28, 29 May 2011

Yogg-Saron Dungeon Companion

Yogg-Saron

The Old Gods' (also known as the Elder Gods[1] , old whisperings[2], or the old lords of the earth[3]) are mysterious, godlike and greatly malefic entities which ruled in tyranny over the infant universe (possibly only Azeroth) before they were sequestered within the primordial world of Azeroth by the titanic Pantheon.

The Old Gods existed only as legend even to most dragons, who had been born in the dawn of the world. The dark entities had ruled over a bloody chaos of which even the demon Lords of the Burning Legion could not imagine. They had ruled over the primal plane until the coming of the world’s creators. There had been war of cosmic proportions and, in the end, the Old Gods had fallen. The Old Gods had been cast down into eternal imprisonment, the place of their confinement hidden from all and their powers bound until the end of time. Nevertheless the Old Gods had somehow found a manner by which to reach out to the mortal plane and seek that which would free them.[4]

History

Planar origins

The Old Gods ruled over the primal plane until the coming of the titans.[5] There are more Old Gods than just the ones trapped on Azeroth. It takes a lot for them to become manifested on a physical plane, however.[6]

Ordering of Azeroth

Before the titans came to Azeroth, the malign Old Gods - colossal beings of elemental fury - ruled the world and the savage elementals that dwelt upon it, a bloody chaos of which even the demon Lords of the Burning Legion could not imagine.[7][8]

Along the journey of the Titans they came upon Azeroth. As the Titans made their way across the primordial landscape, they encountered a number of the hostile elemental beings. These elementals vowed to drive the Titans in the name of their masters back and keep their world inviolate from the invaders' metallic touch. The Pantheon, disturbed by the Old Gods' penchant for evil, waged war upon the elementals and their dark masters. The Old Gods' armies were led by the most powerful elemental lieutenants: Ragnaros the Firelord, Therazane the Stonemother, Al'Akir the Windlord, and Neptulon the Tidehunter. Their chaotic forces raged across the face of the world and clashed with the colossal Titans. Though the elementals were powerful beyond mortal comprehension, their combined forces could not stop the mighty Titans. One by one, the elemental lords fell, and their forces dispersed.[9] A battle between a titan and the Old God C'Thun raged in Silithus. The titan fell and it was thought that C'Thun had also fallen - but he survived unnoticed by the titans. For millennia this being lay dormant beneath the world - biding its time. From its prison it waited for the exact moment at which to strike back at those that would see it harmed.[10]

The Pantheon shattered the Old Gods' citadels and casted the remaining ones down into eternal imprisonment deep beneath the earth, the place of their confinement hidden from all and their powers bound until the end of time.[7][11] Yogg-Saron was sealed away within the depths of Ulduar in the far northern reaches of the infant world, and had six watchers assigned to it which served as wardens for its near eternal imprisonment.[12] Without the Old Gods' power to keep their raging spirits bound to the physical world, the elementals were banished to an abyssal plane, where they would contend with one another for all eternity. With the elementals' departure, nature calmed, and the world settled into a peaceful harmony. The Titans saw that the threat was contained and set to work.[13]

During that time the Curse of Flesh has been created by the Old Gods to "facilitate assimilation". The Curse of Flesh affected many titanic creations[14], notably the dwarves. The curse changed the structure and appearance of these races from their original stony/metallic forms into the fleshy forms we know of today.[15] The titans attempted to remove the curse (and the Old Gods), but found that the Old God infestation had grown too severe to remove without completely destroying Azeroth. Instead they bound the Old Gods within Azeroth.[15]

Whispers

Since the dawn of life on Azeroth, the imprisoned and sleeping Old Gods have been whispering to the subconsciousness of mortal and eternal beings alike, subverting their thoughts and feelings, and sometimes driving them to great malice, complete insanity, or both.[16][17][18]

The most notorious and tragic victim of the Old Whisperings is Neltharion the Earth-Warder; the once mighty Dragon Aspect who had been empowered by the Titan Khaz'goroth with dominion over the deep places of the world. Yet, not even Neltharion's great wisdom and power proved capable of breaking the grip the Old Whisperings had on his mind, causing the Earth-Warder to eventually lose all his sanity. Neltharion renamed himself Deathwing, seeking the genocide of all non-draconic life as well as the enslavement of the other dragonflights.[19]

The night elves Malfurion Stormrage and Varo'then momentarily heard the Whisperings when they held the Demon Soul in their grasp. Malfurion has since stated that "Ysera's noble brood has fallen victim to the Old Whisperings", as well.[2] The Highborne Queen Azshara is said to have heard the Whisperings moments before what would have been her death, causing her and her Highborne people to transform into the monstrous Naga-- an offer they either accepted willingly to avoid their fate or which has been coerced on them.[20] The remainder of the surviving Highborne who made landfall in the Tirisfal Glades are rumored to have succumbed to insanity after hearing these same Whisperings.[21]

The most striking historic account of the Old Whisperings however is found within the ancient scrolls of lore of the Tauren tribes, kept at Elder Rise in their capital city of Thunder Bluff. The legend of creation of the formerly nomadic Tauren makes direct reference to the Whisperings, stating that the first incidents of Tauren having committed acts of deceit, murder or warfare were because some among their early brethren "harkened to the dark whispers from deep beneath the world."[22]

Recent history

10,000 years later the Old Gods invaded Nozdormu's realm and managed to open a rift in time, that, as they had planned, tossed some beings back through time, beings that would change the way the war of the ancients took place, and give Sargeras a new chance to enter the world, and therefore give them a new chance to set themselves free. Their plans were although again crushed by the very same Malfurion Stormrage.[23]

The Blackfathom Deeps in Ashenvale was once, long ago, a temple to Elune. The Great Sundering ruined the temple and left it submerged in water and buried under rock. Corruption from the Old Gods seeped up and tainted the sacred moonwell.[24] One may be in the Blackfathom Deeps.[25][26] Hints that old gods lie in or under the Blackfathom Deeps. Not to be confused with Aku'mai who was only influenced by the powers of the Old Gods.

According to Malfurion Stormrage, one of the Old Gods is behind the Nightmare corrupting the Emerald Dream. Although the Nightmare Lord in the dream turned out to be the Satyr Lord Xavius, it is suspected that he was working for higher powers. This seems to be confirmed in World of Warcraft: Cataclysm.[27]

Master's Glaive

The Master's Glaive contains the remains of a forgotten one.

Strength

Krasus speculated that should the Old Gods open the gates of their prison even Sargeras would find himself pleading for the peace of death. Krasus further thought that the Aspects were the most powerful creatures on all the mortal plane. So if anyone had a chance against the Old Gods, it was them. Combined all five of the Aspects represented a force capable of defeating the elder beings.[28]

Nevertheless the Old Gods are neither omniscient nor omnipotent. The benevolent titans, though not gods themselves, cast a magical slumber upon the Old Gods and imprisoned them far below the surface of the world. It is possible for a Old God to exert influence over several locations simultaneously. Yet the power of a god is limited. Otherwise, of course, the Old Gods could not have been imprisoned. Nonetheless, an imprisoned, sleeping, or otherwise enfeebled god may still have an effect--conscious or not--on the god's surroundings. The development of the qiraji is said to be the result of just such an incidental influence. Can one ever truly destroy a god, putting a lasting end to its existence? Unfortunately that question has departed the realm of philosophy and become a matter of vital concern.[29]

The Old Gods are unfathomable to mortal minds. They seem to delight in chaos, anarchy and constant elemental warfare, pitting the enormously powerful elemental lords against one another seemingly as a form of amusement. The Burning Legion under Sargeras has a twisted ethos that maintains that all existence is a mistake and that all things should be reduced back to entropic nothingness; in contrast, the Old Gods have no ethos, no morality and operate through a raw amorality (one might even say they transcend things like motives and ethics) that seeks nothing more than endless, meaningless, motiveless destruction for its own sake. Under the Old Gods rule, nothing like a society or civilization could ever arise. It's telling that even their former servitors, the Elemental Lords, do not seek their return or serve them willingly. Today, the Old Gods on Azeroth often operate through the Twilight's Hammer cult, who seek the ultimate destruction of the world.[30]

Number

Depending on the source, three, four, or five Old Gods lie imprisoned. Some of these sources seem to imply that these numbers were the limit to the number of Old Gods. The roleplaying game seems to imply that there were more than five Old Gods, including those imprisoned or killed.

  • The Warcraft III manual states that five Old Gods were chained beneath the world.[31]
  • The Pantheon shattered the Old Gods' citadels and chained the five evil gods far beneath the surface of the world.[32][33]
  • According to the War of the Ancients Trilogy, there are three Old Gods still living, imprisoned and chained by the Titans deep beneath the surface of Azeroth. There may be more however, these three are indicated to have formed some sort of alliance in order to escape their imprisonment.[7]
  • According to "The Old Gods and the Ordering of Azeroth", four Old Gods were imprisoned beneath the world. This could perhaps be reconciled with the War of the Ancients trilogy if it were taken to include the fallen C'Thun in the count of the imprisoned Gods. This is however unlikely as C'thun was believed dead and not imprisoned. Note that the version of this chapter presented in the story section of the official site does not reference the number of Old Gods.[34]
  • "There are more Old Gods than just the ones trapped on Azeroth. It takes a lot for them to become manifested on a physical plane, however."[35] The Summoned Old God is one of these others.

In the Burning Crusade expansion, a group of Arakkoa known as the Dark Conclave attempted to summon an entity described as an "ancient and powerful evil" into Outland. It is nearly identical in appearance to the first named Old God, C'Thun. Apparently, it is an Old God which never landed on Azeroth.[36]

Named

C'Thun

Main article: C'Thun
Cthun-p2

C'Thun, the first named Old God.

C'Thun was the first of the three Old Gods to be named, having received this name from its creations; the Qiraji. C'Thun was struck down in the region known as Silithus during the dawning of the world, in a battle which is said to also have resulted in the "falling" of a Titan. C'Thun was believed to have been slain permanently by the Titans, but the Old God resurfaced over the course of history as the driving force behind the Qiraji. It is trapped deep beneath the ruined temples of Ahn'Qiraj, where it has exerted its will for thousands of years over its Qiraji avatars, who in turn command the Silithid swarm.

C'Thun is the final boss in the Temple of Ahn'Qiraj.

Yogg-Saron

Main article: Yogg-Saron
Yoggsaron

Yogg-Saron, "the lucid dream".

Described by the demigod Ursoc as "the beast with a thousand maws", Yogg-Saron was the second Old God to be explicitly named such. The dire entity refers to itself in ways as "the lucid dream", "the god of death" or "the true face of death", and appears to secrete a substance named Saronite across Northrend which is capable of driving any that have been exposed to it to murderous insanity. Slinkin the Demo-gnome discovered shortly before his demise that a mysterious connection seemed to exist between the Old God Yogg-Saron and the undead Scourge. In his final note, he claimed to have overheard some of the undead uttering the name "Yogg-Saron" with a tone of tremendous hatred and contempt, which was usually followed by outbursts of rage from other undead. Yet, the Scourge appeared to be mining for Saronite on an industrial scale.

Yogg-Saron's underground prison extends through much of east-central Northrend; his influence has been felt directly in the Grizzly Hills (Vordrassil, the Grizzlemaw Furbolgs and Ursoc), Dragonblight (Ahn'kahet: The Old Kingdom, with faceless ones and a sect of the Twilight's Hammer dedicated to Yogg-Saron) and the Storm Peaks (Ulduar, and the corrupted Titanic guardian Loken). The Old God is located within his prison deep inside Ulduar, and is the final boss of the raid instance, much as C'Thun was the final boss in Ahn'Qiraj.

N'Zoth

Main article: N'Zoth

The third Old God to be named, N'Zoth, was confirmed during Blizzcon 2010 to be the source of the Emerald Nightmare, which has twisted large segments of the Emerald Dream along with its corresponding regions in the waking world. N'Zoth makes several indirect appearances in World of Warcraft: Cataclysm during quest chains in the Vashj'ir zone, and the story implies it to be the driving force behind the naga and the faceless ones. During Blizzcon 2010's Quests and Lore panel, Chris Metzen also mentioned that N'Zoth may be the one "signing Deathwing's checks", adding the remark that this Old God is "a real problem".

Mortal worship

Main article: Old Gods' forces‎

Large groups of the Twilight's Hammer have been observed to settle at or near sites where they believe the Old Gods or their minions are sealed away; many await C'Thun's awakening in Silithus, while others appear to serve Ragnaros in the Blackrock Depths alongside the Dark Iron dwarves.[37] The largest concentrations of the Twilight's Hammer however are located at Grim Batol and within the Bastion of Twilight, in a region of the Eastern Kingdoms that is now referred to as the Twilight Highlands.

Quotes

See also: The Whispers of C'Thun and The Whispers of Yogg-Saron

Whispers to Neltharion

Main article: Deathwing
  • "The night elves will destroy the world..."
  • "The Well is out of control..."
  • "No one can be trusted... they want your secrets, your power..."
  • "Malygos would take what is yours..."
  • "Alexstrasza seeks dominion over you..."
  • "They are no better than the demons..."
  • "They must be dealt with like the demons..."

Whispers to Azshara

Main article: Queen Azshara
  • "There is a way... there is a way..."
  • "You will become more than you ever were... more than you ever were..."
  • "We can help... we can help..."
  • "You will be more than you have ever been... and when the time comes, for what we grant you... you will serve us well..."

Notes

The creatures designated as the Old Gods are said to be parasitic, necrophotic symbiotes.[38]

Inspiration

The names and overall nature of the Old Gods are an homage to the various group of deities from the Cthulhu Mythos in the works of H.P. Lovecraft (first stage), Brian Lumley (third stage), and the Call of Cthulhu RPG.[39] C'Thun appears to be based on Cthulhu and Yogg-Saron appears to be based on the Outer God Yog-Sothoth. Furthermore, the story which concerns the Titans' imprisoning of the Old Gods is an inspiration from the story August Derleth proposed as the ancient outcome of the war between the Elder Gods (represented in the Titans) and the Outer Gods (represented in the Old Gods). Interestingly, the origin of the Titans is alien to Azeroth, while the Old Gods are native to it, swapping the names and some facts. An alternative name of the Old Gods is the Elder Gods.

Fan art

See also

References

 
  1. ^ The Sundering, chapter 16: Yet, clearly their addition to the disk’s creation did not hinder the Elder Gods as it did the dragons.
  2. ^ a b quest:Waking Legends: "Ysera's noble brood has fallen victim to the old whisperings."
  3. ^ quest:The Master's Glaive: "That cult worships the old, old lords of the earth. Lords defeated long ago."
  4. ^ The Sundering, chapter 10
  5. ^ The Sundering, 156
  6. ^ Ask CDev
  7. ^ a b c The Sundering, 157
  8. ^ Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game, 155
  9. ^ The Old Gods and the Ordering of Azeroth
  10. ^ The Prophecy of C'Thun
  11. ^ Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game, 155
  12. ^ Secrets of Ulduar
  13. ^ The Old Gods and the Ordering of Azeroth
  14. ^ History on common tol'vir archaeology artifacts
  15. ^ a b Quotes from Tribunal of Ages
  16. ^ The Old Gods and the Ordering of Azeroth. Retrieved on 2007-12-06.
  17. ^ The Founding of Quel'Thalas. Retrieved on 2007-12-06.
  18. ^ Knaak, Richard A.. The Sundering. ISBN 978-0-7434-2898-9. 
  19. ^ Faces of Cataclysm: Deathwing
  20. ^ The Sundering, 332-3
  21. ^ The History of Warcraft Chapter II: The New World
  22. ^ Sorrow of the Earthmother: "As the children of the earth roamed the fields of dawn, they hearkened to dark whispers from the deep beneath the world."
  23. ^ The Sundering, Prologue
  24. ^ Dark Factions, 164
  25. ^ Lands of Mystery, 8
  26. ^ Horde Player's Guide, 169
  27. ^ N'Zoth
  28. ^ The Sundering, chapter 10: "The Old Ones were creating the key that would open the gates of their prison…and if that happened, even Sargeras would find himself pleading for the peace of death."
  29. ^ The Warcraft Encyclopedia: Gods
  30. ^ WoW Insider: Know your lore: The Old Gods
  31. ^ Warcraft III manual, page 79
  32. ^ History of Azeroth
  33. ^ Warcraft Lore FAQ 1
  34. ^ http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/story/chapter1.html#3
  35. ^ World of Warcraft Forums - Ask CDev #1 Answers. Retrieved on 2010-06-30.
  36. ^ Ask CDev
  37. ^ Horde Player's Guide, 169
  38. ^ Tribunal of Ages#Quotes
  39. ^ Blizzcon 2010: Art Panel HD Part 2