Jade Forest


 * This land of cloud-ringed mountains and hidden bamboo thickets runs along Pandaria's eastern shore. Horde and Alliance forces have spread out into this extraordinary locale, hoping to gain support from the ferocious hozen and industrious jinyu races that dwell throughout the Jade Forest.

The Jade Forest is a zone located in eastern Pandaria, bordering the Valley of the Four Winds at the southwest and Kun-Lai Summit at the northwest. The heart of the Pandaren Empire, it is a lush rainforest with statuesque stone spires, prominent with the pandaren architecture.

The Temple of the Jade Serpent is located in the eastern portion of the zone, and it is the very first dungeon adventurers will encounter when first arriving in Pandaria.

Unlike two previous expansions, where the adventurers could choose one of two starting zones, Jade Forest is the sole starting location, much like Hellfire Peninsula was in Outland, but the major difference is that factions start on the opposite sides of the zone (Horde at the north and the Alliance at the south). The zone itself is roughly 50% larger than Twilight Highlands.

The introductory quest for Alliance players is The King's Command, and for Horde players is The Art of War (quest).

Description from official site
''After a naval battle between the Horde and the Alliance leaves the survivors stranded on the beaches of Pandaria, rescue parties of those factions’ elite soldiers set out explore the mysterious, fog-shrouded island. You are among them. As one of the first explorers to set foot on Pandaria, you’ll begin your investigation in the midst of the emerald bamboo and coastal marsh of the Jade Forest, where two of Pandaria’s most prominent races make their homes. The monkey-like Hozen and the Jinyu fish-people thrive near the rivers of the Jade Forest, and your first encounters with them are likely to be hostile. Yet, ultimately, your lack of allies and guidance in this unfamiliar land will make befriending the natives your only option.''

Introduction
After a devastating naval battle, survivors from both the Horde and Alliance wash up onto the tree-lined shores of the Jade Forest. Surrounded by wilderness, they must form alliances with the natives if they wish to survive. Along the way, they will meet the pandaren... along with some of the greater powers that protect and shape Pandaria.

The Alliance and Horde will ally themselves with the indigenous creatures to fight a war with lasting consequences to the Jade Forest, and possibly the rest of Pandaria as well.

The Alliance and Horde enter from the North and the South with a small force of survivors from a shipwreck.

Getting there
Players that have reached level 85 are given access to introductory quests in their faction capitals Stormwind City or  Orgrimmar that bring them to the zone via gunships. There is no boat or road you can take without the starting quest.

Geography
The landscape of the Jade Forest is verdant and lush. High spires dot the region and its coastal areas, and the flora is diverse in several areas of the land. Pandaren buildings, such as temples, monasteries, farmlands are prominently gracing the land and fascinate its curious visitors that have managed to get past the mists shrouding the continent. In some places, ancient mogu ruins can be found - one example are the Terrace of Ten Thunders in the north, yet travelers must exercise caution, as the reawakened servants of the Thunder King have reawakened and now plot the downfall of Pandaren empire. Since the arrival of two warring factions of Azeroth, they have gained a foothold in old mogu structures in the northern and southern reaches of the forest, as well as gained support pandaren villages. Paw'don Village has sided with the Alliance, while Honeydew Village has sided with the Horde. In the east, there is a temple and a monument dedicated to the Eastern August Celestial Yu'lon, the Jade Serpent, but due to the release of negative energies the temple became overrun by the Sha of Doubt and his spawns, and the monument destroyed.

Notable characters
There are four ancestor spirits that guard over Pandaria. The Jade Serpent has the temple dedicated to her, as well as a statue in the zone.


 * Admiral Taylor
 * Anduin Wrynn
 * General Nazgrim
 * Lorewalker Cho
 * Sha of Doubt
 * Taran Zhu
 * Yu'lon

Resources

 * Herbalism
 * Green Tea Leaf (grassy areas away from water)
 * Rain Poppy (near water)
 * Silkweed (Windward Isle only)
 * Mining
 * Ghost Iron Ore

Wild pets

 * Bucktooth Flapper
 * Coral Adder
 * Garden Frog
 * Garden Moth
 * Grove Viper
 * Jumping Spider
 * Jungle Darter
 * Leopard Tree Frog
 * Masked Tanuki
 * Masked Tanuki Pup
 * Mirror Strider
 * Sandy Petrel
 * Shrine Fly
 * Silkbead Snail
 * Spirebound Crab
 * Temple Snake

Wild creatures

 * Beavers
 * Carp
 * Cranes
 * Elk
 * Faerie dragons
 * Foxes
 * Gorillas
 * Moths
 * Orchids
 * Owls
 * Porcupines
 * Seagulls
 * Shale spiders
 * Silkworms
 * Snakes
 * Spiders
 * Sprites
 * Stags
 * Tigers
 * Turtles
 * Wasps