View source for Netherstorm

{{For|the zone from an [[alternate universe]]|Farahlon (alternate universe)}}
{{Infobox zone
| name = Netherstorm
| ss = Netherstorm Concept Art Peter Lee.jpg
| level = 25 - 50
| battlelvl = 20 - 21
| capital = {{Neutral}} [[Tempest Keep]]
| races = {{Race|Ethereal}}<br/> {{Race|BloodElf}}<br/> {{Race|Demon}}<br/> {{Race|Goblin}}<br/> {{RaceIcon|Ghost}} [[Ghost]]<br/> {{Race|Netherwing Dragonflight}}
| rulers = Unknown
| frulers = {{NPC|Neutral|Kael'thas Sunstrider||Sun King Kael'thas Sunstrider|icon=Kael'thas}}{{KIA}}
| major = {{Neutral}} [[Stormspire]]<br/> {{Neutral}} [[Area 52]]<br/> {{Neutral}} [[Sunfury Hold]]
| minor = {{combat}} [[Kirin'Var Village]] {{KIA}}
| affiliation = [[Burning Legion]], [[Independent]]
| loc = Northeastern [[Outland]], bordering the [[Twisting Nether]]
| territory = Contested
}}

The '''Netherstorm'''<ref name="Chronicle V3-140">{{Ref WoWCV3|140}}</ref> is a region of northeastern [[Outland]] consisting of multiple large land fragments and shards of rock floating in the [[Twisting Nether]]. It was previously known as '''Farahlon'''<ref name="Journal">[[Excerpts from the Journal of Archmage Vargoth]]</ref> (or the '''Fields'''<ref name="Worldofwarcraft.com"/> or '''Plains'''<ref>[[Ravandwyr]]'s gossip text: "There was a time when this crumbling land was known as the Plains of Farahlon."</ref> '''of Farahlon'''), a lush [[island]] in the [[Devouring Sea|Barrier Sea]] of beautiful forests and a verdant open range east of [[Blade's Edge Mountains|Gorgrond]],<ref name="Chronicle V2-97">{{Ref WoWCV2|97}}</ref> until it was broken during the sundering of [[Draenor]]. The [[eco-dome]]s of modern Netherstorm are the last remnants of Farahlon's jungles,<ref>''[[Annual 2015]]''</ref> though not all of the wildlife in them is native to Farahlon.<ref>[[Red Moth]]</ref>

The Netherstorm is now locked in a constant magical storm bleeding from the Twisting Nether, further deteriorating the land. Magical lightning arcs within a thick haze of violet cloud and bands of pure magical energy wrap their way across the sky. Some of its wild creatures include [[nether ray]]s, [[mana wyrm]]s, and [[colossi]].

The [[Eye of the Storm]] [[battleground]] takes place in one of the floating islands suspended above the Netherstorm, not far from the [[Tempest Keep]], where the [[Exodar (faction)|Exodar]] [[draenei]] fight the [[Silvermoon City (faction)|Silvermoon]] [[Blood elf|blood elves]] for the control of this nexus of power.<ref>[[Eye of the Storm#Official overview]]</ref>

==History==
[[File:Ancient Draenor Map.jpg|thumb|310px|Farahlon in the northeast before the sundering of [[Draenor]].]]
===Ancient history===
When the ancient [[Sporemound]] [[Botaan]] was killed by the [[colossal]]s, the bulk of its corpse formed a vibrant region later called Farahlon,<ref>{{Ref WoWCV2|19}}</ref> which became a stronghold of the [[Primals]].<ref>{{Ref WoWCV2|21}}</ref> Before the sundering of [[Draenor]], Farahlon had a coastline on the [[Devouring Sea]]. Besides the Primals, Farahlon was also home to some [[Farahlon Giant|giants]], and the presence of [[Farahlon Breaker]]s in modern Netherstorm indicates that more [[Breakers]] might have been present as well.

===Recent history===
Farahlon was also once home to a [[draenei]] city of the [[Ruins of Farahlon|same name]].<ref>''[[Unbroken (short story)|Unbroken]]''</ref> After the destruction of [[Shattrath City]] and the defeat of the draenei, the [[Old Horde|Horde]] began to attack Draenor's other races. [[Kilrogg Deadeye]] led the [[Bleeding Hollow clan]] on a campaign into Farahlon, which now served as the last bastion of the Primals. Its isolated location also made it one of the few places on Draenor unaffected by [[fel]] magic. After crossing the ocean with the help of [[ogre]] shipwrights, orc [[warlock]]s leeched life from the Primals and used the stolen power to set the island's dense forests alight while Kilrogg and his army slaughtered every [[botani]] and [[genesaur]] they could find.<ref name="Chronicle V2-97"/>

During the [[Invasion of Draenor]], the [[Kirin Tor]] members of the [[Sons of Lothar|Alliance Expedition]] settled on Farahlon and created [[Kirin'Var Village]].<ref name="Journal" /> When [[Ner'zhul]]'s [[Dimensional gateway|portals]] destroyed Draenor and transformed it into [[Outland]], Farahlon was transformed into the Netherstorm. The [[Twisting Nether]] constantly ate away at the Netherstorm's borders, and its chaotic magics slowly bled into Outland.<ref name="Chronicle V3-140"/>

===The Burning Crusade===
{{bc-section}}
[[File:Netherstorm.jpg|thumb|One of the [[manaforge]]s in Netherstorm.]]
Years later, the [[naaru]] [[A'dal]], [[M'uru]], and [[O'ros]] arrived in the Netherstorm aboard the dimensional fortress [[Tempest Keep]] in order to aid the peoples of Outland.<ref name="Chronicle V3-140"/> Although the region was broken, Netherstorm was still comparable to [[Westfall]] with its fields.<ref>[[Image of Archmage Vargoth]]'s gossip text: "If you had seen the Plains of Farahlon, you wouldn't believe this is the same place. '''Mere months ago''', these fields would not have looked out of place in Westfall."</ref> But when the [[blood elf|blood elves]] led by [[Kael'thas Sunstrider]] reached Netherstorm, they captured Tempest Keep and used its machinery to harness the storm's magic, further compromising the already unstable land.<ref name="Worldofwarcraft.com"/> They dismantled parts of Tempest Keep and strategically built five tremendous [[manaforge]]s across the Netherstorm, siphoning mana from the Twisting Nether itself and storing it in [[Mana#Manaforges|mana cells]] for the elves to feed on.<ref name="Chronicle V3-146">{{Ref WoWCV3|146}}</ref> The more energies they produced, the more unstable the region would become, turning Netherstorm into a barren, twisted wasteland.{{fact}} Over time, the manaforges weakened the fabric of reality in the Netherstorm, attracting the attention of the [[ethereal]]s, who arrived on Outland to ply their trade or pursue their war against the [[Void]].<ref name="Chronicle V3-146"/> Thanks to [[adventurer]]s however, the forges were stopped soon enough preventing the entire destruction of Outland.{{fact}}

Several areas of the region have been influenced by goblins who performed research and experiments in the unique environment. Signs of their influence can be seen on the architecture of bridges and signposts. They have erected a major base in the form of [[Area 52]] on the southwestern island, and another smaller base in the east called [[Cosmowrench]].

The Netherstorm is also home to two factions of ethereals, the [[Consortium]] and the [[Protectorate]], respectively based at the [[Stormspire]] and the [[Protectorate Watch Post]]. Great magical domes constructed by the ethereals dominate the view from nearly any point in the region. Within these domes, the ethereals worked to preserve an environment that was to the liking of their flesh-based clients.{{fact}}

The [[Burning Legion]] also took a stake in the zone. They established two principal bases, [[Forge Base: Oblivion]] and [[Forge Base: Gehenna]], and overran the [[Arklon Ruins|Arklon]] and [[Ruins of Farahlon|Farahlon]] ruins. Their representatives could also be found close to Kael'thas' blood elves, namely the manaforges spread across the region.

==Geography==
{{Source needed}}
[[File:Area 52.jpg|thumb|[[Area 52]], a [[goblin]] outpost.]]
[[File:Netherstorm-large.jpg|thumb|Concept art of [[manaforge]]s.]]
[[File:Eco-Dome Midrealm.jpg|thumb|[[Eco-Dome Midrealm]], one of the [[eco-dome]]s built by [[ethereal]]s.]]

The region known as the Netherstorm is comprised of the lands situated on seven relatively large floating islands and thousands of smaller rock fragments interspersed amongst them, which are the remnants of the once-lush Fields of Farahlon. The original color of the rock is unknown, but since the deterioration of the land began, the bedrock and soil have assumed a sickly purple color that supports absolutely no plant life (barring netherbloom). As the original landmass was ripped apart and warped into its current state, great fissures opened and jagged, lopsided spires and platforms of rock were thrust upward. Like many other regions of Outland, great floating islands hover unnaturally above the landscape, some found spinning listlessly hundreds of feet above the surface.

By land, the Netherstorm can only be entered by crossing the goblin-built [[Gyro-Plank Bridge]] which spans the gap between the eastern border of the Blade's Edge Mountains and the Netherstorm's westernmost island. A short hike down the road from the bridge leads to the goblin outpost of [[Area 52]] where the goblins under [[Rocket-Chief Fuselage]] work to perfect their nether rocket technology.

Several draenei ruins also populate the region. The [[Ruins of Enkaat]] lie to the northwest of Area 52 and are inhabited by the restless spirits of fallen draenei who once lived there. The [[Arklon Ruins]] further to the east are inhabited by demons of the Burning Legion hunting for draenei artifacts of power. In the far north of the Netherstorm lie the [[Ruins of Farahlon]], also infested with powerful demons.

The Burning Legion has several holding in the region in addition to the draenei ruins. Forge Bases: Gehenna and Oblivion, dedicated to the construction of monstrous [[fel reaver]]s see scores of demons working furiously to construct the reavers. Invasion Point: Overlord and Invasion Point: Destroyer are sites dedicated to the summoning of powerful demonic reinforcements. The Legion's commander in the region, Socrethar, has taken over the entirety of the smallest of the major islands in the northwest. The island has gained the name Socrethar's Seat as a result.

On the northeastern side of the northeast island lies the Celestial Ridge, a great forest of arcane crystals and nesting grounds for a large number of nether dragons of the [[Netherwing]] faction. On the eastern side of the southernmost island is the human settlement [[Kirin'Var Village]]. Built as a base for many of the Kirin Tor mages that came through the [[Dark Portal]] at the conclusion of the [[Second War]], it is now inhabited only by ghosts and strange magical apparitions.

One of the most notable features of the land are the five Manaforges scattered across the floating archipelago. Constructed by the forces of Kael'thas using naaru technology discovered in [[Tempest Keep]], these abominable devices provide a potent source of arcane power to fuel Kael's insidious plans. Of the five, four of the Manaforges (Ara, Coruu, B'naar, and Duro) are operational and garrisoned by the [[Sunfury]] blood elves and a scattering of the Legion's demons. The fifth; Manaforge Ultris, has been destroyed and infested by shadowy void creatures. Two rival ethereal bands: the Ethereum and the Protectorate, vie for the rights to the potential profits that might be reaped from such a disaster. Great tube-like conduits that span the region channel the energies amassed by the Manaforges to Kael's seat of Tempest Keep in the east.

Finally, in the central and northern regions of the Netherstorm are the holdings of the ethereals of the [[Consortium]]. There they have constructed massive arcane domes inside of which they have engineered conditions favorable to plants and animals that could never survive in the Netherstorm otherwise. Known as Eco-Domes, they serve as lush oases in the arcane desert surrounding them. The southernmost, Midrealm, is home to creatures such as lynx, moths, and crocolisks. To the immediate north is the largest in the region, consisting of three conjoined eco-domes. Eco-domes Sutheron and Skyperch flank the Stormspire to the north and south. Adopting a series of draenei ruins atop a tall cliff, the ethereals have made the Stormspire the center of all Consortium activity in the Netherstorm and indeed in all of Outland. North of the Stormspire is the smallest of the domes, Eco-Dome Farfield. It is uninhabited by ethereals but is home to several varieties of exotic dinosaurs.

===Maps and subregions===
[[File:VZ-Netherstorm.jpg|thumb|left|Map of the Netherstorm.]]

{| class="darktable  hlist"
|-
|
*[[Area 52]]
**[[Rusty Rocket Tavern]]
*[[Arklonis Ridge]]
**[[Arklon Ruins]]
*[[Camp of Boom]]
*[[Celestial Ridge]]
*[[Cosmowrench]]
*[[Crumbling Waste|The Crumbling Waste]]
*[[Eco-Dome Farfield]]
*[[Eco-Dome Midrealm]]
**[[Midrealm Post]]
*[[Eco-Dome Skyperch]]
*[[Eco-Dome Sutheron]]
*[[Ethereum Staging Grounds]]
*[[Forge Base: Gehenna]]
*[[Forge Base: Oblivion]]
*[[Gyro-Plank Bridge]]
*[[Heap|The Heap]]
*[[Invasion Point: Destroyer]]
*[[Invasion Point: Overlord]]
*[[Manaforge Ara]]
**[[Trelleum Mine]]
*[[Manaforge B'naar]]
*[[Manaforge Coruu]]
*[[Netherstone]]
*[[Protectorate Watch Post]]
*[[Proving Grounds (subzone)|The Proving Grounds]]
*[[Ruins of Enkaat]]
*[[Ruins of Farahlon]]
*[[Scrap Field|The Scrap Field]]
*[[Socrethar's Seat]]
*[[Stormspire|The Stormspire]]
*[[Sunfury Hold]]
*[[Tempest Keep]]
*[[Tempest Rift|The Tempest Rift]]
*[[Town Square]]
**[[Chapel Yard]]
**[[Violet Tower|The Violet Tower]]
**[[Wizard Row]]
*[[Tuluman's Landing]]
*[[Voidwind Plateau]]
*[[Manaforge Ultris]]
**[[Access Shaft Zeon]]
*[[Vortex Fields|The Vortex Fields]]
**[[Manaforge Duro]]
|-
||
----
;[[Undisplayed location]]s
*[[Kirin'Var Village]]
*[[Nova grave]] — [[Instance]]d: [[Eye of the Storm]]
|}
{{clear|left}}

[[File:Gyro-Plank Bridge.jpg|thumb|The [[Gyro-Plank Bridge]] bridging the Netherstorm and the [[Blade's Edge Mountains]].]]
[[File:Tempest Keep Concept Art Peter Lee 2.jpg|thumb|Concept art of [[Tempest Keep]], the structure which houses all the dungeons in Netherstorm.]]

===Instances and battleground===
{| class="darktable"
! Dungeon Name 
! Level Range 
! Group Size
! Approximate Run Time
|-
| {{portal|Mechanar|bc}}  || 69-72
| 5-man
| 1-2 hours
|-
| {{portal|Botanica|bc}}  || 70-72
| 5-man
| 1-2 hours
|-
| {{portal|Arcatraz|bc}}  || 70-72
| 5-man
| 1.5-2.5 hours
|-
| {{portal|Eye (Tempest Keep)|raid|The Eye}}  || 70+
| 25-man
| Unknown
|-
! colspan="4" | Battleground
|-
| {{portal|Eye of the Storm|pvp}} || 61-69, 70-79, 80 || 15-man || 5-35 minutes
|}

===Elite areas===
*[[Arklonis Ridge]]
*[[Netherstone]]

===Travel hubs===
[[File:Netherstorm sky.jpg|thumb|The sky of Netherstorm as seen in-game.]]
;{{Neutral}} [[Area 52]]

;{{Neutral}} [[The Stormspire]]

;{{Neutral}} [[Cosmowrench]]

===Adjacent regions===
{| class="darktable"
|-
! Zone Name || Faction || Level Range || Direction || Access
|-
| [[Blade's Edge Mountains]]
| {{Alliance}}{{Horde}}
| 65-80 || West || Normal
|}

==Notable characters==
{{main|Netherstorm NPCs}}
The Netherstorm contains several characters of note. [[Spymaster Thalodien]] and [[Anchorite Karja]] lead the [[Scryers]] and [[Aldor]] forces, respectively, against [[Kael'thas|Kael'thas']] blood elves and [[Socrethar]]'s [[Burning Legion]] forces. [[Nexus-Prince Haramad]] is the leader of the [[Consortium]]'s business ventures atop the [[Stormspire]]. 

==Quests==
{{main|Netherstorm quests}}

==Resources==
[[File:Access Shaft Zeon.jpg|thumb|[[Access Shaft Zeon]], a mine beneath [[Manaforge Ultris]], holds nearly always one or more [[vein]]s.]]
'''[[Cloth]]'''
*[[Netherweave Cloth]]

'''[[Leather]]''' ([[Skinning]]):
*[[Knothide Leather Scraps]]
*[[Knothide Leather]]
*[[Crystal Infused Leather]]
*[[Fel Scales]]

'''[[Metal]]s''' ([[Mining]]):
*[[File:Inv ore feliron.png|18px]] [[Fel Iron Deposit]]
*[[File:Inv ore adamantium.png|18px]] [[Adamantite Deposit]]
*[[File:Inv ore adamantium.png|18px]] [[Rich Adamantite Deposit]]
*[[File:Inv ore khorium.png|18px]] [[Khorium Vein]]

'''Other:'''
*[[Arcane Vortex]] → [[Mote of Mana]] - Requires a [[Zapthrottle Mote Extractor]] ([[Engineering]]) to gather.

==Inhabitants==
{{columns|3|
*[[Air elemental]]s
*[[Arcane guardian]]s
*[[Basilisk]]s
*[[Beholder]]s
*[[Blood elf|Blood elves]]
*[[Colossi]]
**[[Farahlon Giant]]
**[[Farahlon Breaker]]
*[[Crocolisk]]s
*[[Devilsaur]]s
*[[Doomguard]]
*[[Dreadlord]]s
*[[Earth elemental]]s
*[[Eredar]]
*[[Ethereal]]s
*[[Felbeast]]s
*[[Fleshbeast]]s
*[[Gan'arg]]
*[[Ghost]]s
*[[Hydra]]s
*[[Lasher]]s
**[[Farahlon Lasher]]
*[[Lich]]
*[[Lynx]]es
*[[Magic elemental]]s
*[[Mana wyrm]]s
*[[Mo'arg]]
*[[Moth]]s
*[[Nether dragon]]s
*[[Nether drake]]s
*[[Nether ray]]s
*[[Ooze]]s
*[[Raptor]]s
*[[Rock flayer]]s
*[[Shivarra]]
*[[Skeletal horse]]s
*[[Talbuk]]s
*[[Void terror]]s
*[[Voidwalker]]s
*[[Warp stalker]]s
*[[Wind serpent]]s
*[[Wrathguard]]s
}}

==Notes and trivia==
*Originally, it was said that an [[arcane]] storm warped the Netherstorm.<ref name="Worldofwarcraft.com" /> In game, it is the [[manaforge]]s, though this is not initially known.
*Netherstorm features a unique way to die, as the ground is broken up into several pieces of land, each with a large crack leading down into the [[Twisting Nether]]. Watch where you step! Fortunately, should you run off into the great abyss, you can resurrect on the ground about 20 yards in from the edge.
*{{Au|Farahlon}} from {{Au|Draenor|alternate Draenor}} was described as having a high magical potential,<ref>[[To Farahlon!]]</ref> which could explain why the [[Kirin Tor]] members of the [[Sons of Lothar|Alliance Expedition]] [[Kirin'Var Village|settled down]] in the region.
*The [[Laughing Skull clan]] was previously stated to have lived in Farahlon,<ref name="Journal"/> but ''Warlords of Draenor'' and ''[[World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 2|Chronicle Volume 2]]'' put them in [[Blade's Edge Mountains|Gorgrond]].<ref>[[:File:Chronicle2 Draenor Orc Clans Map.jpg]]</ref>
**The cookbook [[Spoons and Forks]] during the quest [[Orcish Groceries]] also mentions that the Laughing Skull used many ingredients sourced from Farahlon.
*[[Scythetooth Raptor]]s can be found in both versions of Farahlon.
*Farahlon may have been named after the {{wp|Farallon Islands}}, located west of San Francisco.
*The {{Expac|The Burning Crusade}} Flash site had this to say about the zone: "The region of Netherstorm was a verdant open range called the Fields of Farahlon until [[Draenor]] was ripped apart. Normally imperceptible to mortals, the [[Twisting Nether]] bled into the physical realm and unleashed a tumultuous arcane storm that warped the surrounding territory. The [[Blood elf|blood elves]] are now using the technology of a [[Tempest Keep|captured naaru vessel]] to harness the storm's magic, further compromising the already unstable land."<ref name="Worldofwarcraft.com">[[The Burning Crusade Flash site]]</ref>

==Patch changes==
*{{Patch 7.3.5|note=Level scaling implemented, previous zone level: 67 - 70.}}
*{{Patch 2.0.3|note=Added.}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Elinks-zone|3523}}

{{Netherstorm}}
{{Outland}}

[[Category:Netherstorm| ]]
[[Category:Deserts]]
[[Category:The Burning Crusade]]

[[pl:Netherstorm]]