Kezan

The Isle of Kezan (pronounced "KEH-zawn") located in the South Seas is the tropical homeland of the goblins. Their capital of Undermine is located beneath the island, deep in the bowels of Mount Kajaro. Thanks to Kezan's prominence as a mercantile hub, it's been divided into dozens of districts by the trade princes, who view every inch of land as an opportunity waiting to be converted into gold and silver. Kezan's tropical palms are bisected with miles of roadway, and even the beaches are beginning to be paved over by goblin ambitions. Nature eventually reclaimed the island of Kezan as the massive Mount Kajaro erupted with the Cataclysm, flooding the island with searing lava and sending tidal recoil sweeping through Kezan's harbors.

The Trade Princes reside here, as does Mogul Razdunk, the founder and ruler of the Venture Company, and Director Riddlevox, the leader of the goblin Tinkers' Union.

The playable goblin race experiences a phased instance of Kezan in their earliest levels before evacuating to the Lost Isles. Kezan is not reachable by other races or beyond these initial levels. Many of the denizens now live in Bilgewater Harbor in Azshara.

Early history
The first recorded inhabitants of Kezan arrived around ten thousand years ago, following the Great Sundering, when some of the goblins that had previously resided near Ulduar took refuge on the island.

After the Sundering, the Zandalari trolls that once ruled a large part of Azeroth started exploring numerous islands that dotted the newly formed sea. During one of these trips, they discovered Kezan and the goblin race, who were very primitive but still possessed some intellect. Initially, the two races kept a distance as the Zandalari only came to the island in order to mine the rare mineral kaja'mite. While the trolls didn't know too much about it, they realized that it was very potent, and used it as a sacred component in their rituals and ceremonies. For many centuries the trolls mined and occasionally even paid goblins in trinkets in order to work for them, but this arrangement was soon to change. At some point the trolls, while digging, discovered that Kezan possessed an unimaginable deposit of kaja'mite underground, more than they would ever need. So rather than digging for it themselves, they enslaved the goblins and forced them to drill in terrible conditions. For thousands of years the goblins, too weak to resist, suffered under the rule of the Zandalari.

While Kezan was thus part of the Zandalari Empire, it was kaja'mite that finally led the goblins to their salvation. By this time the goblins had long forgotten the role kaja'mite had once played in their society, enhancing their then remarkable intellect. But, over time, as the slaves breathed in the dust of the ore which clouded the mines, it began to awaken the goblins' dormant intelligence. Secretly they plotted to start a rebellion, gathering any materials they could find and hide in order to create a wide range of weapons, traps, and explosives.

One hundred years before the opening of the Dark Portal, the troll overseers were caught completely off guard when the goblin masses stormed out from the mines, armed with technology that the Zandalari couldn't even imagine at the time. The trolls' hold over Kezan was shattered completely, their mining operation failed and the surviving Zandalari fled. Though they no longer inhabit the island, the Zandalari still consider it sacred to this day.

The goblins were now free, and in order to celebrate their newfound freedom they turned on each other, creating chaos as countless feuds were waged and alliances formed. Soon enough they were split into various different groups, with the most powerful of these groups known as the cartels. However, as the battles raged on and it became clear no one was actually winning, the cartels realized it was in their mutual interests to broker a truce. Despite this, the conflict would never really end, as the goblins now turned to trade, doing battle in the economic arena. For years to come the cartels were rivals, constantly outshining and outsmarting each other as they continued in their quest for wealth and power.

With kaja'mite once more enhancing their intellect and innate craftiness, the goblins of Kezan rapidly expanded their knowledge of technology. As the cartels branched out into commerce, goblins established themselves as master technicians, selling their goods on the open market. Eventually, kaja'mite supplies ran low and as the goblins' intelligence dwindled, their inventions became more and more unreliable. As a result, the goblins turned increasingly to mercantilism as a source of income, in the process transforming Kezan into a profitable trading hub.

Cataclysm


Kezan received heavy damage when Mount Kajaro erupted due to the arrival of Deathwing. The Bilgewater Cartel evacuated their city of Bilgewater Port, but how the other cartels reacted is unknown. The status of the capital of Undermine is also unknown.

Jastor Gallywix later revealed to Warchief Sylvanas that when they were still on Kezan, his cartel had dug really deep and found a small vein of Azerite and took its substance. He also admitted that there's a possibility that the deep digging may have contributed to the volcano eruption together with Deathwing's Cataclysm.

Battle for Azeroth
Rent asunder by the eruption of Mount Kajaro, Kezan is now brimming with Azerite in the aftermath of Sargeras' assault on Azeroth. Seeking to make a fortune and stake his claim to the title of Trade Prince, Mogul Razdunk has focused the Venture Company's efforts on weaponizing Azerite and selling it to the highest bidder, taking over Crapopolis as their base of operations in Kezan.

Geography
Kezan is a tropical and volcanic island located in the South Seas, not far from the Lost Isles, southwest of the Maelstrom, and northwest of Zandalar. Bilgewater Port was located in the northern coast and the capital of the Undermine is located within and under the isle itself. Due to the Cataclysm, Mount Kajaro erupted, destroying Bilgewater Port and possibly the other settlements around the island, also presumably changing the landscape. Despite the destruction, the town of Crapopolis on the southern shore survived, meaning other areas of the island might have as well.

Early development


The Isle of Kezan had been in the planning stages long before Cataclysm. This section details its previous, unused incarnations.

Other than the Undermine, notable locations include Mount Kajaro, an active volcano in the southern part of the island, and Bilgewater Port on the northern coast. The non-canon RPG also featured Edj on the northeastern coast, and Voodress Village inhabited by trolls. Voodress is mentioned in World of Warcraft by Maywiki as being in the South Seas, but whether it is on Kezan or not is unstated.

On the World of Warcraft Behind the Scenes DVD there was a map of the Isle of Kezan, which is above the Undermine, visible on a whiteboard. It shows:
 * Three transportation paths to: Booty Bay (by boat), Kul Tiras (by boat), and Ratchet (by zeppelin). Valgarde is also somehow connected.
 * What seems to be a lake in the center of the island, with rivers connecting it to both ports and Mount Kajaro.
 * What seems a forest right next to the lake, with tigers inhabiting it.
 * Four coastal zones: "Resort Beach", "Savage Beach", "Black Beach", and "Rain Forest".
 * "Naga Gate" off the western coast.
 * Edj in a bay to the northeast, and presumably Bilgewater Port to the northwest.

Cataclysm
Kezan was eventually repurposed as the initial starting zone for the goblins in Cataclysm. The Bilgewater Port area was the only explorable place of the isle. In the starting zone, an open bridge and an invisible wall prevents access to the rest of Kezan.

Battle for Azeroth
The MOTHERLODE!! instance was added as a dungeon in Battle for Azeroth. It is located somewhere on Kezan.

In the RPG
The Isle of Kezan is under the control of the goblins, making the whole place a swarming cesspool of corruption, chaos, scheming, and invention. Several cities exist on Kezan, including the nefarious Undermine, the de facto capital of the goblins' trade empire, the Trade Coalition.

Kezan is a tropical island, and palm trees and other greenery appear in profusion. The isle's many ports bustle day and night as merchant ships approach and depart, carrying goods of all sorts to places of all sorts for people of all sorts. Kezan is a valuable way station between the Kalimdor and the Eastern Kingdoms, and almost all travelers stop here, whether traveling by ship or gryphon or more esoteric means. The island is the heart of the goblins' mercantile efforts, pumping trade throughout Azeroth.

The Isle of Kezan is the largest and southernmost of the South Seas islands, and, despite the goblin presence, the safest. Unlike the surrounding islands, Kezan's inhabitants won't try to kill you on sight; rather, they ﬁrst attempt to take your money and all your worldly possessions, then leave you to die on the rain-soaked cobblestone streets. Kezan's ports are valuable neutral areas for both the Alliance and the Horde, and if not for the goblins, trade would grind to a standstill and you would not ﬁnd adventurer shops in remote places such as Stranglethorn Vale.

Every city on the island is a bit like Ratchet but on a larger scale. Goblins control just about everything on Kezan, and you will leave with less gold than you had when you came. Goblin tinkers and alchemists are found throughout the island.

History
No particularly noteworthy events have happened in Kezan. The goblins created Undermine and beat up the trolls pretty bad. Since that time, they have ranged out and allowed people of all races to buy silly merchandise at exorbitant prices. They allied themselves to the Orcish Horde in the Second War (either because the orcs paid and/or intimidated them), but in the Third War they were a neutral force, making money off every side.

An orc warlock called Dak'mal was recently captured on Kezan by a group of adventurers who penetrated his stronghold and apprehended him. He was controlling a cult of demon worshippers in the isle's jungles. The adventurers returned him to Bilgewater Port for incarceration, but the goblins, thinking the orc to be too dangerous to keep in a conventional prison (and too big a political issue to execute, as the orc claimed to be a simple mage and a representative of Orgrimmar), decided to transport him in the Fearsome Yacht to the magic prison of Tol Barad, though they never reached the destination.

People and culture
The goblins' entire culture is, apparently, focused on mercantile enterprises, and they work hard to expand their markets in any way possible. Most goblins seem friendly but insane.

Goblins can be cutthroat merchants, and this ruthlessness is more prevalent on Kezan than anywhere else — probably because the goblins are competing against their own kind. While goblins answer to no king or other such titular head, a collection of trade princes rules their merchant empire, which is called the Trade Coalition. Ofﬁcially, ﬁve trade princes exist, though it would not be a surprise if there were one or two more lurking about in the shadows. The goblins certainly don't elect their trade princes, nor are the positions hereditary; the trade princes killed, blackmailed and schemed their way to the top. Together, these ﬁve goblins make the mercantile machine run, organizing the extensive and complex Trade Fleets.

The Trade Coalition is huge, far-reaching and massively complicated. In addition, numerous other, smaller goblin companies, created and run by entrepreneurs called moguls, operate throughout Azeroth. Perhaps the most famous of these smaller businesses is the Venture Company, founded and ruled by Mogul Razdunk. Goblins engage in any activity that earns them a proﬁt. They trafﬁc in legitimate dealings, including food, spices and textiles, as well as more esoteric and questionable wares, such as magic items and arms dealing. Goblins have no respect for nature and engage in deforestation and mining on vast scales (the Venture Company is particularly notorious for such activities). In addition, goblins run morally corrupt businesses such as smuggling and slave trading. While the Trade Coalition condones all such activities, goblin smugglers and slavers prefer to maintain low proﬁles — for obvious reasons.

As chaotic as it is, goblin society does have some order to it. Goblin barons serve as magistrates to run the trade princes' lands and holdings, and goblin captains command vessels for the Trade Fleets or for private merchants.

Geography
Kezan is a tropical island, and the associated flora and fauna appear in the wilderness between cities. Palm trees are everywhere, and in the wild places you can find tasty fruits and flowers the size of a dwarven head. There are also many tropical animals, including tigers and lots of bugs.

The isle has several natural bays, and the goblins have constructed at least small port towns in most of them. As you travel south, the elevation rises. Southern Kezan is volcanic, and several volcanoes constantly ooze lava into the ocean. Mount Kajaro, the most recognizable mountain on Kezan, is found there. Lava tubes and other geological tunnels and caves riddle the island.

Undermine is located beneath and within Kezan, and is connected to the island via a series of volcanic tunnels. Its main centers of population are in volcanic caverns beneath Kezan. The harbors of Bilgewater Port and Edj are found on the northern part of the Kezan. The jungle troll settlement of Voodress Village is located near Mount Kajaro.

Directly east of Kezan is Plunder Isle while Zandalar is to the northeast.

Notes and trivia

 * Vinny Slapchop sold Kezanite after Deathwing attacked Kezan.
 * The demonym for the people of Kezan is "Kezanian".
 * Rice is cultivated on Kezan.
 * At some point, Grandmaster Rochu and Ban-Lu swam all the way to Kezan.
 * The Income Optimization University has a branch in Kezan.
 * There is an organization called "Kezan Blasterboots Inc."
 * There seems to be an inconsistency of when the Undermine was established. The creation screen when choosing a goblin character says that the trolls enslaved goblins and forced them to mine kaja'mite out of the Undermine, deep in the bowels of Mount Kajaro. The official site says that the Undermine was created from the camps in the mines after they overthrew the trolls.
 * Jungle trolls were initially said to have enslaved the goblins of Kezan. It was later changed to the Zandalari trolls. Moreover, the game portrays the troll slaves on the island as forest trolls, yet one quest says there were jungle troll slaves once.
 * At BlizzCon 2010, Alex Afrasiabi said that the goblin starting zone was only "a small segment of the actual whole' of Kezan", and that the goblins "did want to go back to Undermine and the other goblin land holdings, just a question of when." The MOTHERLODE!! dungeon, another location south of Mount Kajaro on Kezan, was additionally added in Battle for Azeroth eight years later.
 * The name of this island is probably a reference to Volcano Islands, known in Japan as Kazan Rettō (火山列島). One of the most famous islands of this archipelago with volcano is Iwo Jima (硫黄島, Iō-tō; in Japanese means Sulfur Island).

Gallery

 * Bilgewater Port