uesting is the lifeblood of level advancement in World of Warcraft, and is the source of story progression and interactivity with the vast, immersive land of Azeroth. This is no different in
The Burning Crusade, as the plight of two new races and a terrible threat from beyond the Dark Portal demand new heroes and powerful alliances to stave off the darkness. In this issue, the Insider takes a look inside the quest lines of the two new races introduced to Azeroth, and the daunting challenges to be found in the shattered world of Outland.
ver wanted to do a bombing run from the back of a flying mount? How about control a miniature fel reaver as your pet? Want to fight a series of fearsome enemies alongside your friends in a public arena, gladiator-style? In the wild and wooly world of Outland, you can do all this and more. Here are just a few of the notable quests that must be experienced:
Mission: Murketh and Shadraz and Mission: The Abyssal Shelf
Location: Hellfire Peninsula
ake to the skies and bomb the foul demons of the Burning Legion from the back of a wyvern or gryphon! In the first quest, your targets are the dimensional gateways used to bring more forces of the Burning Legion into Outland. As your flying mount begins its attack run, you'll have several opportunities to fling bombs down on the gateways below. The mechanic is similar to that used to apply an area of effect ability such as Blizzard or Rain of Fire - except for that fact that you're flying over your target. In the second part of the quest, you'll blow up the demonic troops that have been massed near the gates. Chuck bombs down on them with glee and set back the Burning Legion's war effort by weeks. These quests can be repeated indefinitely for the sheer fun of it all, though you'll only get the rewards the first time.
The Ring of Blood (Series)
Location: Nagrand
ocated in northern Nagrand by the Laughing Skull Ruins is an arena held by the ogres of the region: The Ring of Blood. Assemble a group of your closest allies to take on the arena's six formidable champions, each more imposing, and difficult, than the last. Each fight is public spectacle, so bystanders can cheer you on and even participate in the matches by healing you (or attacking you on a PvP server) or attacking your opponent. If you emerge from the chaos and fury of the Ring of Blood victorious, you'll have your pick from a selection of impressive awards.
You, Robot
Location: Netherstorm
nomish and goblin questgivers seem to have the tendency to make you the guinea pigs for some dubious new device, and this quest is no exception. Outside of Area 52, upon meeting a certain Dr. Vomisa, Ph.T., you'll be unceremoniously handed a remote control and told to take the Scrap Reaver X6000 on a test run. Sounds innocent enough, but no sooner do you activate your miniature fel reaver companion than you have to throw it in battle against a much larger robotic foe. The Scrap Reaver X6000 has its own pet ability bar with abilities that you must skillfully use in order to emerge victorious in this battle of the (nearly) giant robots!
Blood Elf Starting Quests
he blood elf starting areas, Eversong Woods and the Ghostlands, are rich with opportunities to learn about the history of this ancient race. As a new blood elf character, you will start on the haven of Sunstrider Isle and immediately be sent on quests that will teach you about the fate of the once-proud city of
Silvermoon and its people.
The quest line will eventually lead into
Eversong Woods, where the beauty of the forest stands in sharp contrast to the horror of the Dead Scar - a ghastly wound on the land rending the city of Silvermoon in two. It serves as a permanent reminder of the brutality of Arthas and the Scourge. Here, you will perform duties ranging from assassinating an Alliance spy to purging the land of the magic-starved Wretched.
By the time you arrive in the
Ghostlands, you will be determined to join the fight against the Scourge and seek new sources of magical energy for your people. The Ghostlands are controlled by a coalition of blood elf and Forsaken forces - an uneasy alliance formed out of mutual enmity toward the Scourge. However, the Ghostlands still carry a foul taint, as they directly border the Scourge-overrun Eastern Plaguelands. The questgivers in the Horde town of Tranquilien will pit you against that corrupting influence.
One interesting quest you will find in the Ghostlands begins with a drop, a necklace, from the fallen rangers who have overrun Windrunner Spire.
This necklace prompts a journey to the leader of the Forsaken contingent at Tranquilien. He identifies the item as a lost gift to
Lady Sylvanas Windrunner from her sister, Alleria. You are then tasked with
delivering the necklace personally to Sylvanas, in the deepest part of the Undercity - a convenient introduction to the Forsaken capital for new blood elf players.
When Sylvanas takes the necklace from you and examines it, it awakens memories of a time before the Scourge. She sings a hauntingly beautiful song of loss and sorrow for her people, from a time and place that seems like a remote memory - although only a few years ago. Along with giving you insight into a key character in the Warcraft universe,
this is currently the only quest in the game where you are treated to a vocal performance. The song sung by
Sylvanas can only be heard in-game during this quest, so it's worth experiencing for all Horde players - even those whose power far outstrips the monsters of the Ghostlands.
Draenei Starting Quests
he draenei are not from this world; they left their homeworld, Argus, thousands of years ago, and they have traveled the cosmos for ages. They arrived on Azeroth very recently, and under less than favorable conditions - their vessel, the great ship Exodar, crashed into the side of a mountain. Many draenei did not survive this tragic accident, but you are among the lucky survivors.
After weeks spent in suspension, you awake in the Ammen Vale of Azuremyst Isle, emerging from near-death to a new world, alien to you and your people. The quests of Ammen Vale bring you up to speed with what has happened since the crash, and they also help familiarize you with your new surroundings.
Once you feel confident enough to venture out of Ammen Vale, it's time to explore the rest of Azuremyst Isle. Remember, you and your people are the newcomers here, so it might be a good idea to start making friends in this new world.
Some quests of Azuremyst Isle involve forging a bond with a tribe of
furbolgs - a task that quickly turns out to be a little more difficult than it seemed at first, since you first need to find a way to overcome the language barrier between yourself and the Stillpine furbolgs. But they aren't the only non-draenei people you will encounter on Azuremyst Isle. An
Alliance ship was stranded on the shores of the island, and the ship's crew desperately needs your help to find the traitor hiding in their midst. Maybe if you donned a clever disguise, you could find out who's behind all this...
Azuremyst Isle also is where you will finally see the vessel that brought you and your people to Azeroth. Lodged into the side of a mountain, the magnificent
Exodar can be
seen from miles away. You will learn more about the situation, and the things that happened in the aftermath of the crash. It seems as though the draenei are not the only major faction present on these isles: the blood elves followed you here, and Sunhawks have been sighted on Bloodmyst Isle.
Bloodmyst Isle has seen the worst of the Exodar's crash. The ship's wreckage has been scattered all over the area, and mutagenic fallout is stronger here than in any other part of the isles. Some quests in the area revolve around investigating and reducing the pollution, but your main concern should be the blood elf threat. The Hand of Argus managed to capture one of the blood elves, but he's not talking. However, there might be a way to convince him to tell you about their secret plan... A successful interrogation reveals that the blood elves are led by a traitor among the Draenei - a powerful eredar by the name of
Sironas, who infiltrated the draenei ranks and passed as one of them for a very long time.
Your path is clear now: you must attack Sironas's base and defeat her, so that your people may finally be safe in their new home. The showdown at the Exodar's vector coil is brutal and desperate, but with the help of some friends, you will be able to defeat Sironas and her minions.
If you succeed, you'll prove yourself as a true champion of your people, and you'll receive a hero's welcome upon your return to Blood Watch...
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