User:GoldenYak/Ahn'Saron, the Inner Kingdom

UNDER CONSTRUCTION related to Spider Kingdom Expansion Concept

Ahn'Saron, The Inner Kingdom is a zone of the Spider Kingdom located beneath the surface of Northrend. Passing through the ruins of Ahn'Vekir, the First City from the Shadow Web caverns is the only largely unguarded ground route to the Inner Kingdom. The Scourgewall and its passages from the Upper Kingdom are heavily patrolled by Newbreed forces, and virtually impassable on foot.

Another route to the Inner Kingdom can be found in Icecrown, beneath the citadel of the Lich King. This route involves traversing the perilous Forgotten Depths of Naz'Anak.

History
Ahn'Saron is the heart of the Spider Kingdom. Once a prosperous metropolis built in the darkness of Azeroth underworld, it is a broken shadow of its former glory. But the Inner Kingdom has begun to teem with life once again. In Ahn'Saron, the spider queen Nezar'Kali has birthed a new and terrible generation of nerubians - the Newbreed. Even more monstrous than their predecessors, these new nerubians have replicated and spread with frightening speed, bred to be the ultimate race of warriors and conquerors. Soon, the legions of Azjol-Nerub will fill their underworld to bursting, and will swarm up to the surface, wiping away all that the races who dwell in the sun have built, and ushering in the eternal dominance of the Spider Kingdom.

Geography


Ahn'Saron is a vast underground valley, deeper within the earth than any other region of the Spider Kingdom. Every cliff-face, chasm, and cavern wall is covered in nerubian construction, and their tunnels are carved deep into the stone. The temples and palaces of the nerubians stretch as far as the eye can see, and tower far overhead to touch the distant cavern ceiling. Natural stone pillars stretch to the cavern roof, each carved with enough nerubian buildings to hold the population of a small city. Stalactites reach down from the distance ceiling in a similar manner, and entire templates hang suspended from diamond-hard strands of webbing. The forces of the nerubians and the servants of the Old Gods hold full dominion here.

There are regions to the east where the cities of the Inner Kingdom do not reach. They come to a halt at the edge of the great Fire Sea, an ocean of molten lava that lights up the underworld like the sun. Here can be found the lowest reaches of the titan complex Ulduar. Great machines draw upon the energy of Azeroth's burning magma to fuel the vast titan city.

Subzones
A more detailed overview of the Inner Kingdom's subzones can be read here.

Rare Mobs

 * Xog - A lava worm that dwells within the Fire Sea. It escaped from the firelands in ancient times and has grown to colossal size.
 * Vel'Skrik - This nerubian flyer has threatened the 'skies' of the Inner Kingdom for years, an enormous beast with an even larger appetite.
 * Urgo'Nok - A reptilian humanoid that can be found prowling in the lower levels of the Inner Kingdom. No creature quite like it has ever been seen on Azeroth before.
 * Seeker Nevan - A renegade member of the Twilight Cult. He seeks power for his own sake, and holds many dangerous relics that he has stolen from the cult.
 * The Howl from Beyond - One of the enigmatic Voiceless Ones, servants of the Unspoken. It haunts the outer tunnels surrounding the Altar of the Old Gods.

Instances
- The Halls of Flame - This titan structure provides geothermal power to the entire Ulduar complex, and the Twilight cult are attempting to sabotage it.

- The Halls of Horror - A titan containment facility, imprisoning some of the most terrible monsters ever encountered from Azeroth's ancient history.

- Altar of the Old Gods - One of the oldest temples on Azeroth, this place of worship offers up sacrifices and benediction to the Old Gods.

- Necropolis of Nerub - An ancient structure holding the nerubian dead of thousands of years. The remnants of the undead Scourge seek to raise an unstoppable army here.

- Palace of the Spider Queen - The last stronghold of the nerubians. Deep within the Royal Quarter is the queen of the entire sinister race, a creature of terrible power who hates all that dwell in the light.

Quests and Storylines
Ahn'Saron provides a wide range of quests for players to complete, and contains the highest level of content available. Players arriving from the Shadow Web Caverns are likely to still be at level 91, but will soon find themselves at level 92, prepared to meet greater challenges.

The Inner Kingdom at Level 91

 * Root of the Problem - The forest of Crystalsong, turned to magical crystal long ago, has recently begun to lose its mysterious arcane power. The source of the drain lies in the Crystalweb Caverns.
 * Malevolence Rising - At the bottom of Manadeep Lake, the fallen blue dragon Beryligos is filled with the dreadful power of the Malevolence, and begins to resurrect as a wychwyrm. If the Malevolence successfully raises Beryligos, Crystalsong will be destroyed and all of its power will fuel an army of undead blue dragons.
 * What Lies Beneath - The forces of Doorward are massing for their attack on the Immortal City of Ahn'Saron, but they've received an unusual call for help. Players must escort a contingent of Doorward forces to answer the summons of Mimiron, Watcher of Ulduar.
 * The Ulduar Substructure - The titan structures that crown the Storm Peaks are but the surface of the great city of Ulduar. Its halls stretch deep into the darkness beneath the world, and hold many secrets... and horrors.
 * Across the Fire Sea - Mimiron's forces are on the move to retake the depths of Ulduar from the forces of the Old Gods. Players will be given command of Mimiron's fearsome armory to do battle.
 * The Halls of Flame - The power source for all of Ulduar is threatened. If the Halls of Flame fall to the enemy, a calamity will be unleashed across all of Northrend.

The Inner Kingdom at Level 92

 * The Immortal City of Ahn'Saron - The greatest city of the nerubians awaits exploration, and it falls to the Alliance and the Horde to blaze a trail through the Immortal City.
 * Heart of the Spider Kingdom - The nerubians power grows daily, and it must be challenged before it eclipses the might of the surface world.
 * The Depths of Twilight - The Twilight cult is but one of the allies the nerubians have called to their side.
 * Stronghold of the Twilight Scourge - The nerubians have returned to the worship of the Old Gods, and have forged a pact with the Twilight Scourge, allowing them to take over a temple-city as their stronghold.
 * The Scourgewall - While the nerubians were pushed off of the Scourgewall in the Upper Kingdom, they are preparing a new offensive at the base of the wall in the Inner Kingdom.
 * Return to Doorward - The trail has been blazed into the Inner Kingdom and the counter-offensives of the nerubians have been blunted. Now is the time for the forces of Doorward to invade the heart of Azjol-Nerub.

The Inner Kingdom at Level 93

 * Enter into Twilight - Malykriss, the great saronite necropolis, hovers above the Immortal City. The forces of Twilight within have launched an assault upon an unexpected target - Icecrown Citadel, currently under the control of the Knights of the Ebon Blade.
 * Icecrown Citadel - The Darkness Gate - Darion Mograine and his death knights stand against the Twilight forces seeking to invade Icecrown Citadel. What is it that the servants of the Old God seek within the stronghold of the Lich King?
 * Icecrown Citadel - The Vault of Remnants - In the deepest chamber of Icecrown Citadel lies the Vault of Remnants. The forces of Twilight have stolen several of the relics hidden there, but for what purpose?
 * The Forbidden City - In the depths of the Forbidden City, the great carcass of a Forgotten One lies festering. The evil it unleashes even in death may spell the doom of the surface world, unless it is put to a final end.
 * Altar of the Old Gods - The black heart of the nerubians' spirituality. Carved upon the great black stones of the Altar are the true names of the Old Gods. Any who trespass here risk falling into madness and corruption.
 * The Necropolis of Nerub - The remnants of the Scourge have defiled these ancient crypts, seeking to resurrect the many dead entombed within. With a thousand generations of nerubian royalty at their command, the last of the Scourge may rise to overshadow any other threat in the frozen north.
 * Palace of the Spider Queen - Within the grand and terrible halls, the Spider Queen Nezar'Kali awaits.