User:GoldenYak/Broken Isles

Related to Reign of Azshara Expansion Concept

The Broken Isles is a zone located to the north-east of Zin-Azshari. Here can be found the fabled Tomb of Sargeras, a place of darkness and evil sought by many wicked beings over the centuries. The avatar of the dark titan himself lies sealed within, along with other relics of demonic origin.

History
The Broken Isles were once sunken fragments of Kalimdor, sent to the bottom of the sea in the Sundering. Unlike the rest of Zin-Azshari, the Broken Isles were raised to the surface decades earlier by the orc warlock Gul'dan, who sought the Tomb of Sargeras. The tomb itself was once the night elf city of Suramar, home to notable personages of the night elves such as Tyrande Whisperwind and the Stormrage brothers Illidan and Malfurion. It became a holding place for the remains of Sargeras' avatar when Aegwynn, Guardian of Tirisfal, defeated the dark titan's plan to despoil Azeroth.

Gul'dan sought the Tomb out of a desire to steal the legendary Eye of Sargeras that was entombed within along wih the avatar of Sargeras. Gul'dan brought with him the former Horde clans, the Stormreaver and the original incarnation of the Twilight's Hammer, to aid him in his own goals. In doing so he betrayed the Horde and its former warchief, Orgrim Doomhammer, leading to the Horde's eventualy defeat at the end of the Second War. Doomhammer sent his forces to crush Gul'dan's ambitions, and while Gul'dan searched the tomb his forces were slaughtered by the Black Tooth Grin clan led by Rend Blackhand and his brother Maim.

Gul'dan perished within the tomb, and the Broken Isles were abandoned by the Horde. The many dead who littered the isles did not lie long, but the cursed energies of the tomb spilled out across them and caused them to rise from their graves. The dead now mindlessly battle one-another, endlessly reliving their final battle, unable to destroy their enemies or find rest. The tomb lay open for many years, and a brave and greedy few sought to pilfer the magical riches within over the years. Fewer still succeeded - most who tried were consumed by the demons infesting the structure.

Illidan Stormrage was one of the few to successfully carry out a raid on the tomb, leading a host of naga who had sworn fealty to him. Pursued by night elf watchers who sought his re-capture, Illidan successfully obtained the burning Eye of Sargeras, then caused much of the tomb to collapse, seeking to bury the enemies that persued him. After these events, the tomb lay quiet, untouched, for some time... but since the rise of Zin-Azshari, magisters across Azeroth have sensed demonic activity increasing within the tomb. Dark powers are growing in the depths, seeking to be unleashed upon Azeroth.

Geography
The Broken Isles are dotted with sparese growths of tropical plantlife. The most prominents features are the many night elf ruins that yet stand, crawling with moss and creepers. Great caverns and crevasses riddle the landscape, and from these chasms swarm countless undead orcs, who fight their eternal unthinking battles under the grey skies.

Dungeons
- Tomb of Sargeras - The resting place of the dark titan Sargeras' avatar. Evil is on the rise deep within...

Story
Players are dispatched to the Broken Isles when Horde and Alliance spell-casters sense the dark energies in the region growing in potency. The isles swarm with hostile undead, skeletal orcs that battle mindlessly and turn upon all who approach. Some orcs still live, warlocks who were once members of the clans that fought and died on the islands, totally insane but still hungering to unleash ruin and destruction upon the world. The demons of the Burning Legion drawn near the Broken Isles, and are easily summoned into existence here.

As the heroes draw closer to the tomb, the faction spell-casters accompanying them begin to grow increasingly unstable, affected by the dark influence pouring from within. A violent confrontation may be inevitable.

Questlines

 * The Broken Isles - Drawn by the dire threat of growing demonic activity, the Alliance and the Horde dispatch spell-casters to ascertain the danger.
 * Remnants of the Stormreavers - Orc warlocks still dwell within the island, conjuring demons and dark monsters.
 * War of the Clans - The fallen orcs from decades ago still battle, reducing to nothing but skeletal horrors. The mystical necropoli that animate them must be destroyed to halt their rampage.
 * The Legion Draws Near - Demonic activity is perilously high so close to the Tomb of Sargeras. Some creatures that have never been seen before are manifesting themselves to seek the resting place of their master.
 * The Demon's Tomb - At the very gates of the Tomb of Sargeras, a shocking betrayal may spell doom for any who seek to halt the evil within.