Azshara
- For the ruler of the naga, see Queen Azshara. For Azshara prior to the Cataclysm, see Azshara (Classic). For the naga zone in the Broken Isles, see Eye of Azshara.
 Azshara | |
|---|---|
| Level: 5-30 Battle Pet Level: 3 - 6 | |
 | |
| Capital(s) |
 Bilgewater Harbor |
| Races |
  Goblin Hobgoblin Furbolg  Orc  Blood elf  Naga  Night elf  Human Satyr  Dwarf  Gnome Black dragon Blue dragon Murloc Sea giant Mountain giant Ancient |
| Ruler(s) |
 Monte Gazlowe |
| Former ruler(s) |
 Jastor Gallywix |
| Major settlements |
Gallywix Pleasure Palace Orgrimmar Rear Gate Mountainfoot Strip Mine Talrendis Point Blackmaw Hold Ursolan Ruins of Eldarath |
| Minor settlements |
Valormok Rocketway Darnassian Base Camp Secret Lab Xylem's Tower Ruins of Nordressa Arcane Pinnacle Bear's Head Legash Encampment |
| Affiliation | Bilgewater Cartel, Horde, Darnassus, Alliance, Blackmaw tribe, Spitelash, Legashi, Xylem's apprentices, Black dragonflight |
| Location | Southeastern Northern Kalimdor |
| PvP status | Horde territory |
Azshara is a beautiful coastal area cloaked in eternal autumn.[1] It is located in northeastern Kalimdor, east of Ashenvale, south of Winterspring, and north of Durotar. The trees and other flora are tinged in brilliant oranges and reds, and nearer the coast, great cliffs and sandy beaches line the ocean. The region's hostile inhabitants include enraged ghosts, vicious satyr, stalking naga, and ferocious wildlife. Azshara is also home to Bilgewater Harbor since the Cataclysm, which is considered the capital city of the Bilgewater Cartel goblins. Following the Siege of Orgrimmar, Tyrande Whisperwind claimed the night elves would allow the goblins to keep Azshara as part of the tentative peace between the Horde and Alliance,[2] however, the conflicts have since resumed following the Burning of Teldrassil in the Fourth War.[3]
History
War of the Ancients
Ten thousand years ago, during a battle in Azshara, the demigod Cenarius granted his blessing to Huln Highmountain, so that his people would forever have his favor. This transformed Huln and his people's horns into the Horns of Eche'ro: their moose-like antlers.[4] Huln then went on to battle the nathrezim Tichondrius, who was leading the Burning Legion's forces in the region.[5]
The Highborne of Mennar Academy used a Sarcen Stone to draw arcane energy away from the Legion's portal at the Well of Eternity, buying time for the rest of the world to fight back. This act cost them their lives when the demons came down on them, and history would not record these unsung heroes.[6]
Third War
During the Third War in 21 ADP, when the Burning Legion launched their invasion on Kalimdor, the demons arrived in Azshara and made their way to Ashenvale.[7]
Right after the Battle of Mount Hyjal, Illidan Stormrage and his naga, along with local mur'guls and satyrs, passed through the region, assaulting the local night elven villages and wreaking havoc among the forest creatures, including the furbolgs and wildkin. As Maiev Shadowsong and the Watchers followed their trail, they had to put the creatures out of their misery. Illidan's goal was to wreck the night elven harbors on the coast so no one could follow him to the Tomb of Sargeras.[8]
World of Warcraft
In Year 25 ADP, a blood elven expedition led by Magus Rimtori searched for a rune in Azshara. After they killed their orcish bodyguards, Rimtori positioned her entire escort at the Thalassian Base Camp under Magister Hawkhelm's supervision.[9] Ag'tor Bloodfist eventuallu enlisted Horde adventurers to kill the traitorous elves.[10]
The area is also home to rare Enchanted Coral, which the Spitelash naga were drawn to.[11]
The sea giant Arkkoroc, revered as a demigod by the Arkkoran, sought the help of heroes to kill the hydra queen Hetaera.[12]
In order to destroy Razelikh the Defiler, the demon hunter Loramus Thalipedes aided adventurers to forge Azsharite weapons.[13]
Azuregos and his brood of dragonspawn once guarded the ruins of the ancient night elven city of Eldarath in Azshara. The city was rumored to hold many powerful Highborne artifacts scattered throughout the ruins, and Azuregos would stop at nothing to safeguard these artifacts from falling into mortal hands.[14]
Elementals invaded the area only to be fought by the adventurers of the Alliance and Horde.
In Season of Discovery, Whisperwing is a hippogryph with the title "Guardian of Azshara".
The Burning Crusade
Prior to the invasion of Outland in 26 ADP, Azshara was invaded by a group of Burning Legion demons led by Highlord Kruul.[15]
Wrath of the Lich King
By the Year 27 ADP, the region was invaded twice by the Scourge in the years leading to the war against the Lich King.[16]
Pearl of Pandaria
Concurrently to the Northrend campaign, Li Li Stormstout, Strongbo and her uncle Chen Stormstout fought against Zhahara Darksquall and Rahjak on an isle in Azshara.[17]
Cataclysm
Following the Cataclysm in 28 ADP, the Bilgewater Cartel goblins made their home in Azshara, where they built Bilgewater Harbor into the cliffside, and destroyed the Azshara Crater to make way for a large quarry. To show their loyalty to the Horde, the goblins have reshaped the Bay of Storms into a giant Horde symbol.
As Warchief Garrosh Hellscream prepared for war to claim all of Kalimdor, the Bilgewater goblins played their part by building war machines, constructing weapons, and establishing a massive naval harbor within sight of Orgrimmar. Meanwhile, the night elves fully intend to challenge this unwelcome occupation, and hopefully stymie a conflict that would otherwise be carried deep into their forests.[18]
During the war against Deathwing, Kalecgos traveled to Bilgewater Harbor in Azshara in search of a fellow blue dragon. The black dragonflight sought to rout out the last remaining blues and invaded the area to hunt down Azuregos. With the help of the heroes, Kalecgos managed to convince Azuregos to come out of hiding and assist him in repelling the invasion.[19]
Mists of Pandaria
Following the Siege of Orgrimmar in 30 ADP, Tyrande Whisperwind and Varian Wrynn spoke about the price of peace between both factions, and the High Priestess was willing to allow the Horde the use of Azshara's lumber if they abandoned Ashenvale for good. While she did not share the High King's confidence, she was willing to support this peace, while their people would be ready for battle if the treaty was not respected.[2]
Legion
During the third invasion of the Burning Legion in 32 ADP, the demons targeted Azshara as one of their invasion points, especially targeting the rear gates of Orgrimmar.[20] It was successfully defended by the Alliance, Horde and Illidari.
Getting there
- Alliance
- From Forest Song in Ashenvale, follow the road east into Azshara. The Alliance outpost Talrendis Point is just over the river.
- Horde
- From Orgrimmar, go northeast through the Orgrimmar Rear Gate. Alternatively, from Splintertree Post in Ashenvale, travel along the road east into Azshara. The Horde encampment Valormok is against the mountains, north of the ruined Haldarr Encampment.
Geography
Azshara is located in Northern Kalimdor. It contains the rocketway, a free five-station elevated transport which runs around the bay. Rocketway stations are:
- Northern Rocketway Terminus
- Northern Rocketway Exchange
- Gallywix Rocketway Exchange
- Orgrimmar Rocketway Exchange
- Southern Rocketway Terminus
There are no instances or battlegrounds in this zone.
Maps and subregions
Travel hubs
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In addition to the below flight paths, there is a Rocketway present in the zone that will transport you to another station for free.
- Flight paths from the Southern Rocketway Terminus
- Orgrimmar, Durotar
- Bilgewater Harbor, Azshara
- Orgrimmar, Durotar
- Thunder Bluff, Mulgore
- Crossroads, Northern Barrens
- Southern Rocketway Terminus, Azshara
- Northern Rocketway Terminus, Azshara
- Valormok, Azshara
- Splintertree Post, Ashenvale
- Everlook, Winterspring
- Flight paths from the Northern Rocketway Terminus
- Bilgewater Harbor, Azshara
- Flight paths from Valormok
- Orgrimmar, Durotar
- Bilgewater Harbor, Azshara
- Splintertree Post, Ashenvale
- Gates of Sothann, Mount Hyjal
Adjacent regions
| Zone Name | Faction | Level Range | Direction | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durotar |
|
1 - 20 | South | By swimming Southfury River south, then going ashore east, or go across Orgrimmar |
| Orgrimmar |
|
N/A | South | By going through the Orgrimmar Rear Gate southwest |
| Northern Barrens |
|
10 - 60 | South | By swimming Southfury River south, then going ashore west, or by flightpath to Ratchet |
| Ashenvale |
|
20 - 60 | West | By foot, or by flightpath from Valormok to Splintertree Post, or by flightpath from Talrendis Point to Astranaar |
Notable characters
- Main article: Azshara NPCs
Azshara is home to several characters of note. Kalec relocated to Azshara, fearing that Deathwing would send agents to assassinate the rest of the flight. This held true, as the black dragonflight invaded Azshara to hunt down Azuregos. Kalec can be found in Bilgewater Harbor, where he and Azuregos help low-level Horde players to repel the invasion. At the Arcane Pinnacle, Archmage Xylem's apprentices try to pass his trials. Ogtinc assists experienced hunters and priests.
Quests
- Main article: Azshara storyline
When first arriving in Azshara, you may want to take the Rocketway and tour the zone first. In addition to earning the 
[Joy Ride] achievement along the way, you will gain a good chunk of free discovery experience, be able to pick up the flight paths, and get to see some magnificent scenery. Of course, goblin technology has been known to break down from time to time...
Resources
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- Herbalism
- Mining
- Skinning
- Cooking
Dig sites
Azshara has two dig sites:
- Ruins of Arkkoran; contains Night Elf Archaeology Fragments.
- Ruins of Eldarath; contains Night Elf Archaeology Fragments.
Wild creatures
In the RPG
History
A shattered stretch of coastline on Kalimdor's northeast, Azshara was once the greatest night elf metropolis. The city fell millennia ago in the War of the Ancients, but a few ragged buildings perch on the cliffs overlooking similar ruins among the coral.[22] Much of the city of Azshara fell into the ocean.[23]
Before the Great Sundering, this shattered stretch of coast along Kalimdor's northern border was once a part of the night elven capital of Zin-Azshari; then came the demons' expulsion from the world. The land was rent asunder, and the sea thundered in, making the region a watery grave and leaving nothing but ruins of the once great city. The night elves who survived named this region — once glorious, now nothing but a shattered relic — Azshara, after their queen, who was driven mad by demonic influence. Since that time, this place of rocky islands, jagged cliffs, and coral-choked seas has given birth to many tales.
Some night elves suggest that not all of the demons were banished, still lurking beneath the glittering waters of the Coral Sea and waiting to strike back. Others claim that Queen Azshara was not drowned, but transformed into a hideous aquatic thing who will someday lead her accursed followers to retake the surface world. A few whisper that the Dark Portal that first brought the demons to Azeroth remains and rests under the sea, waiting for someone to reopen it. Still others assert that the ancient Sundering awakened something that dwelled in the deepest part of the ocean, something that will eventually burst forth in a tidal wave of destruction. Whatever the truth, night elves agree that the region is cursed.[24]
Geography
A river separates the primordial wood from what land there is. The terrain beyond the river is little more than a strip of green above fragmented cliffs that rise high over a stretch of ivory beach. The waves of the shallow Coral Sea sweep against this beach, and islands — little more than spires of jagged rock — jut from the water. A twisted expanse of reef creates a labyrinth of coral beneath the ocean surface, making sea travel here virtually impossible.
The night elves consider the place cursed, and most other races find the constant storms unpleasant. There is but a single habitation in Azshara, the orc trading village of Grim Ulang, its residents telling of creatures flitting about the ruins of Zin-Azshari further along the cliffs, and murlocs and naga swimming in the Coral Sea. Bands of undead have appeared along the beach and at the fringes of the Ashenvale Forest. As well, the dark chants of demon cultists have echoed along the cliffs in counterpoint to the thunder of storms. Steady rumors and sightings have led to frequent night elf patrols and an increased martial presence in Grim Ulang.[24]
Notes and trivia
- Something from Azshara is called "Azsharan".[25]
- When Masqueraded in Suramar City, several hostile nightborne guards, including Duskwatch Subjugators and Duskwatch Scions will mention that they could have been posted here before the Sundering if clicked on enough.
- Before patch 4.0.3a, Azshara was one of the most common spots for gold farmers, who feasted upon the large collection of thorium veins in the zone.
- Azshara is well-known for its beautiful fall-like vegetation. In a game without much in the way of weather and seasons, Azshara is a gorgeous and very unique departure from the WoW-norm.
- Azshara was supposed to be the location of the game's fourth battleground, Azshara Crater. After the release of the Burning Crusade, Eye of the Storm has taken Azshara Crater's spot for the fourth battleground.
- Azshara is the name of a server, see Server:Azshara US for more details.
- Before patch 4.0.3a, Azshara was known (or not) for being one of, if not the most unpopulated zone in the game player-wise. This was most likely due to a combination of the low number of quests in the zone (some of which are parts of uncompleted chains), as well as the difficulties of navigating between the beaches and the tops of the high cliffs on the eastern side of the zone.
- Azshara was used for the Four Wheels of Fury Toyota commercial.
- Azshara has always been somewhat barren in terms of content, so Blizzard's original plan was simply to fill in most of the unused space and then take some of the quests that spanned multiple zones and move them completely over to Azshara. The zone itself was a bit of a blank slate, so this approach seemed obvious from the very beginning. While discussing the goals for the overall flow for Kalimdor, the designers started to heavily consider when, where, and how goblins would be introduced to questing on the continent. They realized that they were in sort of a dilemma because, at that point, four out of six Horde races were being routed through the same 10–20 leveling experience in the Northern Barrens. It was only then that they decided to retrofit Azshara as an alternative zone for level 10 through 20 Horde characters and make it a goblin hub.[18]
Gallery
Burning night elven village in The Frozen Throne.
Night elven village in The Frozen Throne.
The Gallywix statue
A huge goblin bomb
The Secret Lab
A waterfall cascading down from Mount Hyjal
Azshara in The Art of World of Warcraft.
The Rocketway
- Main article: Rocketway
Southern Rocketway Terminus
Southern Rocketway Terminus defenses
Riding the rocket
Patch changes
- Patch 7.3.5 (2018-01-16): Level scaling implemented, previous zone level: 10 - 20.
- Hotfix (2013-06-10): Rocketway rockets should no longer be despawning too quickly after being summoned.
- Patch 4.0.3a (2010-11-23): Completely reworked as a level 10 - 20 Horde zone.
References
- ^ World of Warcraft: Exploring Azeroth: Kalimdor, pg. 24
- ^ a b Tyrande's dialogue after Garrosh's defeat
- ^ World of Warcraft: Exploring Azeroth: Kalimdor, pg. 33
- ^ [10-45] Huln's War - Stormrage
- ^ [10-45] Huln's War - The Nathrezim
- ^ [5-30] Mystery of the Sarcen Stone
- ^ File:Chron3 map of Kalimdor in the Third War.jpg
- ^ Rise of the Naga (WC3 NightElf)
- ^ [56] Betrayed
- ^ [56] Betrayed
- ^
[52] The Siren's Coral
- ^ [58G] The Name of the Beast
- ^ [58G] Azsharite
- ^ Game Guide/Raid Areas#Azuregos
- ^ Dark Portal Opens
- ^ Argent Emissary#Quotes
- ^ Pearl of Pandaria
- ^ a b Cataclysm Preview: Azshara
- ^ [5-30] Easy is Boring
- ^ A Good War, pg. 2
- ^ a b Rise of the Naga (WC3 NightElf)
- ^ World of Warcraft The Roleplaying Game, pg. 18
- ^ S&L, pg. 72
- ^ a b Dungeons & Dragons Warcraft The Roleplaying Game, pg. 187-188
- ^ Boss Mida#Quotes
External links
| Azshara | Huln quests | War campaign | |
|---|---|---|---|
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