If you've read the official page, you'll know a little bit about the zone and what's going on there. It's a Dragon Graveyard, and rumored to be the place that the Dragon Aspects were originally granted their powers by the Titans. Specifically, that place would be Wyrmrest Keep. Apparently the Scourge are after Wyrmrest Keep and the five accompanying shrines, which are tied to each of the Dragonflights. Why would they be after these shrines? To create their own dragons, of course.
If you think back to the Plaguelands, specifically Scholomance, this is something they've been attempting to do for a long time now, likely inspired by the power of Sapphiron and the accompanying Frost Wyrms. So if they have access to the Frost Wyrms... why would they need more dragons? Seems pretty obvious to me. What they can do with a pile of flying bones is rather limited compared to what they can do with (un)living, fleshy dragons.
As we've seen with the Plague Eruptors in the WotLK bestiary, the Scourge has put some focus on new means of spreading the plague. Lacing oats and candy bars with the plague isn't going to work anymore, the world knows what's up. The direct approach will have to do, and what would work better than giant flying warbeasts spewing forth the plague on whatever it feels like?
The involvement of the actual Dragonflights here is interesting, too. I'm a fan of the Red Dragonflight half of the story mostly because I'm a Red Flight fanboy. Grinding rep with Alexstrasza? Yes please! The Blue half I'm pretty torn about. Specifically this quote here:
"Determined to manipulate all existing magic to serve his own purposes, the blue Dragon Aspect, Malygos, has ordered his flight to maneuver colossal machines into key positions over magical ley line clusters."
If I see even one Mana Forge in Northrend, I will... probably do the quests anyways, but I won't be happy about it, that's for sure! I think the story of Malygos in Northrend will be an interesting one, but I was always under the impression he could simply alter ley lines and the like himself, not needing giant machines to do it. While I have no issues with the 'high fantasy' of The Burning Crusade, Blizzard has stated they'll be returning to more traditional fantasy for Wrath. The Blue Dragonflight building colossal machines isn't exactly traditional fantasy. It should prove to be interesting nonetheless.
We also see the return of the Scarlet Crusade here in the Dragonblight. The remnants have dubbed themselves the Scarlet Onslaught. Most likely they play the role of villains in this zone, but my gut says they're going to be friendly or at least neutral, like we see in Light's Hope Chapel. I'd like for them to be villains, that's what they do best, but you never know. It's possible these are the remains of the expedition that went to Northrend way back(which you can read about in the Armory of the Scarlet Monastery) but again, that's just a guess. If the Crusade does become good guys here, it better be Marjhan and the gang leading the show. It might be a little "lorelol" but it'd be pretty fun. Besides, Marjhan is hot.
Angrathar the Wrath Gate and a necropolis we see in the fly over video, which is most likely Naxxramas, are the last points of interest in this preview. The Horde and the Alliance are apparently gearing up to assault the gate, which leads to Icecrown. A sign of an event similar to the Shattered Sun Offensive in patch 2.4? Maybe! I'm curious if Naxxramas is tied to the gate in any way. Perhaps clearing Naxxramas, plus solo quests against Angrathar leads to opening up an entire new zone? I doubt it, but that would be very interesting. The Dragonblight's placement on the Northrend map seems to place it at low to mid 70s levelling, so end-game content besides dungeons probably won't happen here.
Wow, that was actually pretty long for such a brief preview of a zone! As you can see, there's a lot going on in this zone, which is a good omen for the rest of the expansion. If every zone is as packed full with plotlines as this one is, I'll be pleased.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
3-14-2008 @ 9:23AM
Quisling said...
I hope the scourge succeeds in their conquest of the dragonblight, if only so that I can kill not just dragons and zombies...
But Zombie dragons.
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3-14-2008 @ 9:41AM
Ryan said...
I guess you've never fought Nightbane, Sapphiron or gone through Mount Hyjal in Caverns of Time.
3-14-2008 @ 9:59AM
Chuddy said...
mmmm..braaaaaaaaaaaains
3-14-2008 @ 10:32AM
Quisling said...
Actually I have fought Nightbane and Sapph, and though my guild hasn't made it to MH yet, I'm fairly sure that what I will find there is no different from the other "undead" dragons we've seen; From TFA:
"What they can do with a pile of flying bones is rather limited compared to what they can do with (un)living, fleshy dragons."
I'm fairly certain that while a flaming pile of bones is fairly cool, it's nothing compared to what a true, fleshly zombie dragon would look like.
3-14-2008 @ 12:40PM
Unmei said...
See Plague Hatchlings in Scholomance
D: They have undead dragons they just don't live very long.
btw ever notice that the dragons that seem to be corrupted into other sub flights of dragons seem to always be Deathwings lil brood?
3-14-2008 @ 2:04PM
Unmei said...
See Plague Hatchlings in Scholomance
D: They have undead dragons they just don't live very long.
btw ever notice that the dragons that seem to be corrupted into other sub flights of dragons seem to always be Deathwings lil brood?
3-14-2008 @ 9:31AM
Khanmora said...
I think it will be interesting to see where they go with the Scarlet Onslaught. From everything we have heard Tirion is going to be reclaiming the Hand which means the events we saw through quests have now passed and supposedly the Scarlets can now see what's going on with Balnazaar and whatnot. If this is the case the Scarlet Onslaught may well now be an ally with whom to grind rep and help actually fight the scourge.
I am soooo excited about the Titan mythology showing up in The Dragonblight. Assuming there is a dungeon in the keep and quests surrounding the shrines, all this points straight back to Uldum. I play a dwarf pally as a main so all of this lore that directly affects my character is HUGE.
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3-14-2008 @ 10:05AM
Chuddy said...
Interesting. While I am in favor of this, the question would need to be asked, what about doing Scarlet Mon? That is saying if the crusade was taken over and shown their ways. Wouldn't it kind of go against what we're doing in there? Here grind my rep but yo! wait a minute....that shoulder looks JUST like the one herod said was stolen last night. I guess just a lot of updating would have to happen. Could be neat. I really hope blizzard puts some good thought into Wotlk. That all said. The zone looks pretty cool.
3-14-2008 @ 10:26AM
Alchemistmerlin said...
@Chuddy
The Storyline in WoW is linear with the way your character levels. As such, by the time you get to Northrend and meet the reformed scarlet crusade, you'll have already defeated the corrupt Scarlet Monastery. When you go back to old world content and do it again, it is essentially "going back in time" and reliving that story.
That's why, no matter how many times you kill Herod and take his pants, he is still there and clothed (mostly) when you show up the next time.
3-14-2008 @ 12:06PM
doyesac said...
Scarlet Onslaught sounds fun either way -- but what about the Argent Dawn? I still have the stupid commission trinket and a few bone fragments sitting in the bank -- am I gonna get to put them to good use in Northrend?
(Prolly not -- just as Cenarion Circle rep made no difference to the members of the Cenarion Expedition, but I just want my favorite old-world faction to make a reappearance and have an impact on Northrend.)
3-14-2008 @ 12:36PM
Khanmora said...
CMs have said that Argent Dawn rep won't be a factor b/c they don't want to give old players such a large advantage. Which is ok with me, only 2 of my characters made it above Revered (only 1 to exalted) so I have no problem not grinding that out for the rest of them hehe.
3-14-2008 @ 9:42AM
Lanth said...
I seem to recall Blizzard saying that Malygos was pissed off at all the reckless magic use, for he "worries they may bring the Burning Legion to Azeroth in force again". However, this new information ("Determined to manipulate all existing magic to serve his own purposes") seems to portray him as a power-hungry evil guy.
Though him being a high-and-mighty dragon, he might think that if he had all the magic in Azeroth (wow, sounds like the plot of a little kiddie TV show), no one else could misuse it. But the "his own purposes" line still throws me off.
Sounds like Kael'thas all over again.
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3-14-2008 @ 9:54AM
Emma Marie said...
I'm thinking "his own purposes", is (in his mind anyhow) safeguarding the world from reckless arcane usage. After the events of the sunwell unfold, I'm sure he'd be more determined to reign in "unregulated" use of magic.
As they say, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.
3-14-2008 @ 9:54AM
Arabelli said...
And considering the other Dragonflights wouldn't even kill -Deathwing- because they were afraid of what would happen, I can't imagine we'll destroy him either. It apparently is the Warcraft equivalent to crossing the streams.
There's just gotta be something we don't know yet.
3-14-2008 @ 11:06AM
Khanmora said...
Mad mad Malygos, did I miss the lore that gave him his flight back after Krasus stashed them for him? I thought the hope was that regaining his flight would help him recover his wits a bit?
Speaking of Krasus I really hope he and Alexstraza play a large part in the lore of Northrend. I would hope that the quests surrounding the shrines in Dragonblight would allow us some access to interaction with each of the flights.
As far as the commenter below asking how Outland will fit in with Northrend, there are several threads that have been prepped by Outland which we should be able to follow in Northrend.
One of which is the relationship of the black dragonflight to the netherdrakes. Another would be the Sunwell opening in Northrend and the obvious presence of the Scourge and the Burning Legion that are involved in the daily quests surrounding SSO as well as in MrT and SPLAT. And possibly the reuniting of the 3 Windrunner sisters (Alleria, Sylvanas and Vereesa). There are a lot of ends at loose yet.
3-14-2008 @ 11:22AM
Arabelli said...
Don't forget the Ashbringer! That likely will tie back to Outland as well.
It's an MMO; you'll always progress past things to whatever is 'endgame'. But Blizz figured out decently early in TBC that we wanted to have some stuff in the old world as well, and likely there will be things to do in Outland in WotLK too.
3-14-2008 @ 12:50PM
Unmei said...
Actually unlike the fall of Keal'thas you could see the fall of the Blue Dragon Aspect in the novels "Day of the Dragon", "War of the Ancients"
And in retrospect any of the Lore that follows by meeting Tyrygosa (might be spelled off) in Netherstorm near where all those Etherium people are located.
She's out there taking control of a clutch of Netherwing Dragons (who use to be Deathwings Black dragons btw) to help restore the memories that got deepfried in dear daddy Malygos' big old dragon noodle by the Demon Soul.
Considering that the essence of the Netherwing Dragons is Nether Energy. I think the combination of Losing ones flight, watching the mortal races abuse the gifts HE gave to them, and then having his mind restoried by a foreign power is enough to turn anyone crazy.
Who knows maybe like this old friend Neltharion, he's hearing the whispers of the "Old Gods" too.
I really do hope we get to see More of the Aspects in this game.
The Machine part makes me wonder. But then again given that 2 blue dragons appear at the Sun Well, and there are blue dragons in outland. Who knows what they returned to dear old dad with to share on their adventures.
3-14-2008 @ 9:57AM
Clasifyd said...
My concern is how TBC is going to tie into WotLK at all. I mean, is Outland just going to be a pit-stop on the way to Northrend on one of my many alts from then on? We have to go back to Azeroth for the AH and training, when need be, but what points of interest does Outland have? Will Kael'thas and Illidan just hang out, waiting for a half-raid of 80's to come show them what hurt is all about? I wanna see some fluidity; some sort of continuity. I'm not incredibly versed in all the lore (yet), but it seems to me that these would be very separate 'segments' or lore that have nothing to do with each other... I just don't want to loose the beauty that came with Outland to some icy wasteland.
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3-14-2008 @ 10:39AM
Antis said...
"Determined to manipulate all existing magic to serve his own purposes, the blue Dragon Aspect, Malygos, has ordered his flight to maneuver colossal machines into key positions over magical ley line clusters."
Oh no! Malygos is going to charge magic users to have the magic flow again!
@ cookies for anyone who can tell me what I am hinting at.
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3-14-2008 @ 3:20PM
Arcere said...
It's been a while since I read the books, but my guess would be Frank Herbert's Dune.
btw I prefer chocolate chip cookies =)