Swamp of Sorrows
- For the pre-Cataclysm zone and associated lore, see Swamp of Sorrows (Classic). For the Warcraft: Orcs & Humans Orc campaign mission of the same name, see The Swamps of Sorrow (WC1 Orc).
 Swamp of Sorrows | |
|---|---|
| Level: 15-30 Battle Pet Level: 14 - 15 | |
 | |
| Capital(s) |
 Temple of Atal'Hakkar |
| Races |
  Orc  Human Green dragon  Draenei Broken Lost one  Jungle troll  Goblin |
| Ruler(s) |
 Dispatch Commander Ruag Joanna Blueheart Trade Baron Silversnap |
| Major settlements |
Stonard Marshtide Watch Bogpaddle |
| Minor settlements |
Misty Reed Farm Splinterspear Junction Harborage Sorrowmurk Fallow Sanctuary |
| Affiliation | Horde, Kingdom of Stormwind, Alliance, Steamwheedle Cartel, Green dragonflight, Atal'ai tribe, Lost Ones |
| Location | Eastern Azeroth |
| PvP status | Contested territory |
The Swamp of Sorrows (also once known as the Swamps of Sorrow[1]) is a contested territory in the southern part of the Eastern Kingdoms. Among its murk-ridden marshes stand settlements built by the orcs, humans, and goblins, as well as the ancient troll temple of Atal'Hakkar. It was once the northern part of an enormous swampland called the Black Morass.
History
Originally, the Swamp of Sorrows was the northern part of an enormous swampland called the Black Morass.[2]
After the fall of the Gurubashi Empire in 1,500 BDP, a renegade faction of trolls, the Atal'ai, fled into the swamp and built the Temple of Atal'Hakkar. As worshipers of the dark loa Hakkar the Soulflayer, they practiced grisly rituals and ceremonies, hoping to once again summon their god into the physical world. Dark magics soon twisted the flora and fauna surrounding the temple, which in turn drew the attention of the green dragonflight. When the Dragon Aspect Ysera learned of their evil plans, she unleashed her powers on the cultists, drowning the temple into the largest bog. Though Ysera thwarted Hakkar's return, she knew that the Atal'ai might someday attempt to summon the loa again; thus, she commanded a number of her loyal green dragons led by her consort Eranikus to watch over the ruined temple and ensure it would never again be used to bring such evil into the world.[3]
First War
When the Dark Portal was opened on Azeroth, the Orcish Horde invaded the Morass to build two settlements and an outpost, respectively Rockard, Stonard, and Kyross. These towns, and later Blackrock Spire farther north, were the orcs' main bases during the First War against the kingdom of Stormwind. During the war, Rockard and Kyross were destroyed, and Stonard was severely damaged.[4]
Second War
After the Destruction of the Dark Portal in 6 ADP, the southern part of the morass was separated and transformed into the barren Blasted Lands. The implosion left some groups of Broken on Azeroth, forever changed by the disaster. Most of them went mad from homesickness and the separation from their land, transforming into the hostile Lost Ones.[5] A small group, calling themselves Broken exiles, managed to escape that fate and struggle along.[6]
The northern part of the Black Morass was named the Swamp of Sorrows, in honor of those who had died during the Second War, and the southern part was named the Blasted Lands.[7]
World of Warcraft
By the Year 25 ADP, the old outpost of Stonard was rebuilt by the orcs to its former glory. Researchers have come to study and exploit ancient magical artifacts,[8] as well as the abundant flora and fauna of the swamp.[9]
The Burning Crusade
In Year 26 ADP, after the crash of the Exodar, Anchorite Avuun and some draenei arrived to help their Broken cousins,[10] staying neutral towards the Horde and building the small village of the Harborage.
Cataclysm
After the Cataclysm in 28 ADP, two new settlements were founded in the swamp: the resort town of Bogpaddle run by goblins from Gadgetzan, and the human outpost of Marshtide Watch, set up to combat the increasing Horde presence in the area.[11] The Alliance have begun taking an aggressive stance against the local Horde, starting by pushing for the destruction of Stonard.[12]
At some point, the Broken exiles from the Harborage joined the Alliance and became hostile towards the Horde.
Battle for Azeroth
During the Fourth War in 33 ADP, after he escaped from Stormwind City, Varok Saurfang used Misty Reed Farm in the swamps as a hideout.[13] When Dark Ranger Lyana and Deathguard Elites arrived here to kill Varok, the orc was defended by Zekhan and the Horde champion.[14] Afterwards, Varok left the farm while Zekhan returned to Orgrimmar.[15]
Geography
The Swamp of Sorrows stands on the eastern side of Azeroth, east of Deadwind Pass, north of the Blasted Lands and south of the Redridge Mountains. Most of the swamp is dominated by nature. Wild beasts like crocolisks, spiders, and jaguars hunt for prey, while aggressive murloc and gilblin tribes populate the coast and nearby caves.
The Swamp of Sorrows contains no raid dungeons or battlegrounds. The Temple of Atal'Hakkar (aka the Sunken Temple), an instanced dungeon for adventurers levels 50-60, can be found in the eastern part of the zone. Bogpaddle, north of the Sunken Temple, is a neutral goblin-operated town. The Horde's outpost of Stonard can also be found in this zone, as well as the Alliance's recently built Marshtide Watch. The Harborage is a small village of draenei broken who pre-Shattering used to deal with both the Horde and the Alliance, but have since become hostile to the Horde.
Previously, there were only two roads in, from Duskwood (via Deadwind Pass) and the Blasted Lands. With the newly settled goblin resort town of Bogpaddle in the northeast, a road was built along the Redridge Mountains, allowing for fast transport from the Burning Steppes.
Maps and subregions
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Topographic map of pre-Cataclysm Swamp of Sorrows
Instances
| Dungeon Name | Level Range | Group Size | Approximate Run Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temple of Atal'Hakkar | 50-56 | 5-man | 3 to 5 hours |
Travel hubs
- Flight Paths from Bogpaddle
- Shalewind Canyon, Redridge Mountains
- Flame Crest, Burning Steppes
- Morgan's Vigil, Burning Steppes
- Marshtide Watch, Swamp of Sorrows
- Stonard, Swamp of Sorrows
- Flight paths from Stonard
- Grom'Gol, Northern Stranglethorn
- Booty Bay, Cape of Stranglethorn
- New Kargath, Badlands
- Flame Crest, Burning Steppes
- Bogpaddle, Swamp of Sorrows
- Dreadmaul Hold, Blasted Lands
- Bogpaddle, Swamp of Sorrows
- The Harborage, Swamp of Sorrows
- Nethergarde Keep, Blasted Lands
- Flight Paths from the Harborage
- Lakeshire, Redridge Mountains
- Marshtide Watch, Swamp of Sorrows
Adjacent Regions
| Zone Name | Faction | Level Range | Direction | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redridge Mountains |
|
15 - 60 | North | By foot along the Redridge Pass. |
| Burning Steppes |
|
40 - 60 | North | Other side of the Redridge Pass. |
| Blasted Lands |
|
40 - 60 | South | By foot only. |
| Deadwind Pass |
|
55 - 56 | West | By foot only. |
Notable characters
- Main article: Swamp of Sorrows NPCs
Quests
- Main article: Swamp of Sorrows storyline
Resources
Wild creatures
In Warcraft III
Once a tribe of furbolgs stubbornly held its own against foul creatures invading the swamp. Unfortunately, they weren't able to hold out long. The tileset is called "Felwood".[16]
In the RPG
The Swamp of Sorrows is not for the faint of heart. Monsters thrive in this smelly bog, making travel difficult and unrewarding. There are few settlements and a lot of stagnant water with thriving beasts.[17] This swamp is a hunter's paradise. A person could make a sack full of gold with the hides, teeth and organs he finds in this area. Of course, separating these items from their owners is the trick.[18]
Far distant from civilization, the Swamp of Sorrows is a stagnant marshland of sucking bogs and weeping trees. The ocean seeps into the fen, making the water brackish and ideal for alligators and crocolisks. Salt deposits encrust fallen logs and protruding rocks. Bog beasts slog through the interior. Despite these dangers, the Horde has taken advantage of the region’s distance from Stormwind to establish a colony on the continent. A group of draenei, displaced from their homeworld, also has a settlement here and routinely sends assassins and saboteurs against the orcs. A flight of green dragons guards a ruin called the Lost Temple, an ancient troll edifice that channels demonic energy and drives living creatures to madness and violence.[19]
History
The Swamp of Sorrows is largely left out of Azeroth's histories, at least those written by the Alliance. Its proximity to the Dark Portal and its remote location from the Alliance, the Burning Legion and the Scourge make it a suitable place for the draenei and the orcs to settle. The Horde had to trek through the southwestern corner during their rampage across the continent and felt the need to set a stronghold there, Stonard. The draenei discovered that the northern swamp's remoteness suited them so they built Fallow Sanctuary.[20]
The only notable event that happened in the past is the amazing creation of the Lost Temple, the watertight demonic temple that houses something terrible. The Green dragonflight guards it closely to protect others from falling to corruption.[18]
A fledgling shaman's spell went awry and attracted the swamp's monsters, as well as some of the demons wandering north of the Blasted Lands, to Stonard. The draenei heard of the orcs' vulnerability and attempted to take advantage of this opening. Stonard was under siege, and the orcs needed all the assistance they could get to survive. Thy even accepted Alliance help if it was offered respectfully.[18]
At some point, Duncan Pike and Zul'armon were in the swamps.
People and culture
The people in this area, when you can find them, are different from most regions. While you know what to expect from the humans, the undead and even the orcs, surprises await in the swamp.
The orcs here are not only more reasonable than the ones you can find in the Burning Steppes, but they also seem smarter. Thrall had ordered them to make peace with the Alliance but since they did not welcome orcs in that continent, peace was difficult, but they did what they could. To the north you can find the vicious draenei who sequester themselves from outsiders, and the corrupt green dragons are to the east. The quiet marshes are apparently dangerous for reasons other than the sucking mud and the monsters.[17][20]
Geography
The swamp lies along Azeroth's eastern coast, bordered by the Redridge Mountains, Deadwind Pass and the Blasted Lands. No main roads run through the sodden lands, and there are few reasons to visit the place. Its sparse inhabitants include orcs of a different ilk than those from the Burning Steppes; some vile green dragons; and the draenei, mortal enemies of the orcs who also call themselves the Lost Ones.[17] Their home on Azeroth lies within the Swamp of Sorrows, though some have begun to travel beyond the Swamp's borders in recent times.[21]
The swamp is aptly named, as water from the ocean estuary encrusts fallen logs and rocks with salt deposits. The road rises mere inches from the water, painstakingly built to allow travel through this wretched area. This stagnant land is made worse by the jaguars, the hulking bog beasts and the crocolisks, many-toothed beasts that lurk at the water’s edge waiting for travelers.[20]
The murky region is humid and rains nearly all the time, almost as if it is a displaced part of Stranglethorn Vale. The ocean seeps into the swamp, making it a salty marsh. Massive, drippy trees rise from the swamp and encourage the air to hold in more moisture, making it as miserable as a rainforest.[17] The swamp is aptly named, as the water from the ocean estuary encrusts fallen logs and rocks with salt deposits. The road rises mere inches from the water, painstakingly built to allow travel through this wretched area. This stagnant land is made worse by the jaguars, the hulking bog beasts and the crocolisks, manytoothed beasts that lurk at the water's edge waiting for travelers.[20]
Settlements are few in this region, as the Swamp of Sorrows is a mostly forgotten area. The settlements that do survive here are populated with hardy people who wish not to be disturbed.[20]
Notes and trivia
- During the Second War, starting from Blackrock Mountain, it took Turalyon's Alliance armies a week to reach the borders of the Swamp of Sorrows, then another week to reach the Black Morass, and then another few days to finally reach the Dark Portal.[22]
- The name Swamp of Sorrows is most likely an homage to The Neverending Story's The Swamp of Sadness, where Atreyu loses his horse Artax.
Gallery
- World of Warcraft
Harborage (pre-Cata)
Sunset near the Sunken Temple.
.jpg)
- Other
The swamp during the First War.
Concept of the swamp in The Art of World of Warcraft.
Patch changes
Patch 7.3.5 (2018-01-16): Level scaling implemented, previous zone level: 52 - 54.
References
- ^ The Swamps of Sorrow (WC1 Orc)
- ^ World of Warcraft: The Dragonflight Codex, pg. 96
- ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1, pg. 138 - 139
- ^ Rockard and Stonard (WC1 Human)
- ^ [15-30] The Lost Ones
- ^ [15-30] Draenethyst Crystals
- ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 2, pg. 184
- ^ [43] Pool of Tears
- ^ [44] Fresh Meat
- ^ [38] Mercy for the Cursed
- ^ [15-30] To Marshtide Watch
- ^ [15-30] Assault on Stonard
- ^ [50] Grim Tidings
- ^ [50] A Warrior's Death
- ^ [50] Queen's Favor
- ^ Official Blizzard Warcraft 3 multiplayer maps from the game and its expansion.
- ^ a b c d Lands of Conflict, pg. 58
- ^ a b c Lands of Conflict, pg. 60
- ^ World of Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game, pg. 16
- ^ a b c d e Lands of Conflict, pg. 59
- ^ Manual of Monsters, pg. 26
- ^ Tides of Darkness, chapter 22
External links
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