User:GoldenYak/World's Heart/Monk Campaign

Related to The World's Heart Expansion Concept.

Monk Class Campaign.

Class Hall - The Sanctum of Balance
The Sanctum of Balance is a new dragonflight sanctum created from the remnants of the old sanctums that were destroyed during the Cataclysm. Though the Wyrmrest Accord that once watched over the sanctums has largely disbanded and many of the older wyrms have fallen into apathy, resigned to their inevitable extinction, younger dragons reach out to the Order of the Broken Temple for aid in discovering a way to renew their species ability to reproduce, which was lost following the de-powering of the Aspects due to the destruction of Deathwing. These younger dragons refuse to accept that their time is truly past - the Age of Mortals belongs to them as well. The red dragon Andrastraz believes that the monks of the Broken Temple hold the key to the dragon's future, and with their aid the dragon race can be saved.

The Sanctum of Balance is located within a pocket dimension connected to Wyrmrest Temple. While the previous five dragonflight sanctums were destroyed by the Twilight's Hammer, fragments of them remained, and the dragons of the Wyrmrest Accorded managed to create a new sanctum from these remnants. The Sanctum is a wondrous, supernatural paradise that incorporates elements of the five dragonflight sanctums - verdant green forests represent the green dragonflight, swirling temporally-charged sand gardens represent the bronze, a shimmering grove of arcane-charged trees represents the blue dragonflight, a tranquil underground grotto represents the black flight, and at the center lies a forest clearing caught in perpetual autumn that represents the red dragonflight, scarlet leaves eternally falling. The sanctum represents the five flights as they were always meant to be, not separate and independent, but unified in harmony.

At the central grove, a great spring designed by the dragons is located which has been tied into magical waters from across the world - the springs of Un'goro Basin, Sholazar Crater, and the swirling arcane energy of the world's ley lines. The dragons call upon the monks to help them imbue the spring with the magical waters of the Vale of Eternal Blossoms in the hopes that the Titan-blessed waters can help the dragon race regain their vitality and secure their future.

Class Hall Special Benefits
Throughout Azeroth's underworld, monks can locate special springs that are connected with the sacred spring within the Sanctum of Balance. By meditating at these springs, monks can acquire special powers that enhance their abilities, as well as summoning forth draconic allies from the Wyrmrest Accord to aid them. Some springs have also been polluted by the darkness of the Old Gods, spewing forth Sha-like aberrations that the monk must destroy in order to purify the spring.

Kar'Samaan, the Unbroken Promise
The draconic staff of Korialstrasz, retrieved from the lair of Alexstrasza herself somewhere in the Eastern Kingdoms. The monk must do battle with packs of twisted underdwellers in the service of the Old Gods - deviaan, skardryn, and bound elemental beings. These wretches are led by aqir forces that seek to slay the vulnerable dragon queen. After purging the dragon queen's lair of enemies, Alexstrasza awards the monk with the treasured artifact, a dragon-headed staff that focuses the very powers of life itself to protect its wielder and their allies.

B'Ganta, Staff of the Turning Wheel
The monks journey to Ulduar to speak with watcher Freya herself. The watcher offers the monks insight into the means by which the sterility of the dragonflights may be reversed. During their meeting with Freya, Ulduar comes under assault by the dark forces of the Old Gods. The monks must do battle with armies of hideous faceless ones and aqir rising up from the depths of the world deep beneath Ulduar. After purging the depths of Freya's sanctum of the fiends, the monk is granted the staff B'Ganta, an artifact crafted by Freya herself with the power to grant life. The staff is used to impart a measure of life-giving magics to the Sanctum of Balance, bringing the monks and the dragons one step closer to their goal.

The Runefists of Goria - Thunderhand and Stormknuckle
Ogre sages from Ogri'la make a pilgrimage to the Sanctum of Balance, and inform the monks there of ancient artifacts from the lost ogre empire of Goria that may be of use to them. The monks travel to broken Outland and search amongst broken fragments of the world to recover artifacts of the ogre empire's past - a pair of battle-gauntlets imbued with runestone magic by the ogre-magi emperors of ancient times. The monks must deal not only diabolical entities of the Void and the hostile pale creatures that serve them, but also black dragons who have succumbed to the madness of the Old Gods that curses their flight.

Fu'Zan, the Traveler's Companion
The monks journey to Ulduar to speak with watcher Freya herself. They must do battle with armies of hideous faceless ones and other servants of the Old Gods rising up from the depths of the world depe beneath Ulduar. After purging the depths of Freya's sanctum of the creatures, Freya will tap into the heart of nature within her sanctum to enhance the power of her ancient staff, transforming it into a new, more powerful form.

Miststaff
Enhance with trees from the Eternal Vale. Battle the last of the Sha, the Sha of Regret, formed from the wicked memories of those who suffered from the Sha. Destroying the last of Y'Shaarj's darkness enhances the staff.

Tol'vir Windfists
Enhance with obsidian tol'vir sorcery. Fight the aqir in the depths of Northrend. Unlock the mighty tol'vir forge that gathers the wind currents of the deep places beneath Azeroth, tapping into the Titan's very breath and imbuing it into the fists.

Campaign Storyline

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The monks of the Shattered Temple are approached by representations of the Wyrmrise Reclaimers, an organization of young dragons who seek a means to restore the fertility of their race, which was lost when the Dragon Aspects gave up their power and immortality. While many of the elder dragons have given up hope for dragonkind, the younger generation has not, and seeks to secure a place for dragons of all flights in the future of the world. Led by the red dragon Andrastraz, the Wyrmrise Reclaimers meet with the monks and inform them that the waters of the Eternal Vale of Pandaria, and other similar substances, may be the key to rejuvenating the dragonflights. The dragons request that the Shattered Temple aid them in acquiring what they seek.

The Eternal Vale and the Black Lotus

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The monks and the green dragon Alyanikus venture to the Eternal Vale, seeking entry into the Terrace of the Endless Spring and the Titan structures beneath the Vale where the water elemental Immerseus dwells. After requesting the waters of the Vale from Immerseus, the water spirit Lei Shi appears and asks the monk to aid her in banishing 'cloudy water' that still stains regions of the Vale. The monks travel with Lei Shi deeper beneath the Terrace and discover that the sha still linger there, their darkness enduring the demise of Y'Shaarj and the other Prime Sha. After clearing away the sha infestation, the monks and Alyanikus discover a Vault of the Titanforged Keeper Ra-den hidden within the Vale, and within it a record of Ra's participation in the original ritual that created the Dragon Aspects. Believing that the knowledge may be of use, Ayanikus attempts to retrieve it, but suddenly the sha re-emerge, this time led with intent by a mysterious figure who identifies himself as Shaku.


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Shaku's dark energy threatens to overwhelm the monks, but they are able to defeat the mysterious being. Shaku reveals himself to be a manifestation of the sha, but more stable and intelligent than the other monstrous breeds. Shaku retreats with the rest of the lesser sha, vowing that he and the monks will cross paths again. The monks secure water from the Vale from Immerseus and Lei Shi, and Alyanikus secures the Record of Ra.

The Waters of the Cradles of Life
Having secure the waters of the Eternal Vale and transported it to the Sanctum of Balance, the dragons consult the Record of Ra to learn the secrets of how the Titanforged Keepers empowered the Dragon Aspects. Andrastraz discovers a ritual by which the life's blood of Azeroth, the nascent Titan who slumbers within the world itself, may be used to empower the dragon race and restore their ability to produce offspring. While the Dragon Aspect Alexstraza alone originally held the power of life that granted all dragons fertility, power that was lost when Alexstraza became mortal, the ritual may be modified to bestow the power of life upon all dragons equally, restoring the entire race to fertility. However, the ritual will require the pure essence of all five of the chromatic flights, as well as strength drawn from a Titan. Andrastraz determines that waters from the other three Titan wells of power - Un'Goro Crater, Sholazar Basin, and the well at Darkbreach in the Twilight Highlands, as well as water from the Well of Eternity, must be gathered to distill the power of a Titan from it. The raw, primal essence of proto-dragons will also be required.

Un'Goro Crater

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The monks travel to Un'Goro Crater with the bronze dragon Numadormi, delving into silithid-infested caverns below the region to acquire the enchanted waters from the underground wellspring there. The monks must battle a marauding band of fierce qiraji, the insect-men driven to deranged fury by the rise of the dark powers and the return of the aqir. The qiraji vow that the Old Gods will soon reclaim the world. In spite of the qiraji resistance, the monks are able to secure pure samples of the waters of Un'Goro. Throughout the adventure, the bronze dragon Numadormi laments the apathy of the elder bronze dragons, many of them resigned to their future fate of becoming the Infinite Dragonflight. Numadormi explains that since Nozdormu became a mortal, many of the bronze dragons can no longer see the future as they once could, and younger bronzes are completely ignorant of what their personal futures hold, having never learned of it through time-scrying. Numadormi believes that not knowing the future may give the younger bronzes hope of forging it for themselves, not having it pre-determined for them.


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Sholazar Basin

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The monks travel to Sholazar Basin with the blue dragon Tyrigosa. They meet with the Avatar of Freya and enlist her aid in acquiring the purest waters of the basin that contain the essence of Azeroth's lifeblood in them. Freya also informs them of an old and powerful proto-dragon called Barbarok roosting in the mountains surrounding the basin that would be the ideal source of primal essence. When the monks and the dragons discover the proto-dragon's lair, however, they find that the beast is already under attack by mantid and pandaren dragon-hunters bearing the emblem of the Black Lotus. After subduing Barbarok, the Black Lotus hunters turn on the monks. A fierce battle ensues, which is cut short when Barbarok breaks free and charges out of his lair, trampling the Black Lotus and carrying off the monks into the air. The monks must battle Barbarok in mid-air high above the basin, finally slaying the beast and sending it plummeting into the Broken Pillar. The monks are rescued from a lethal fall by Tyrigosa in her dragon form.

The monks retrieve the Primal Proto-dragon Essence from the corpse of Barbarok, only to suddenly be approached by none other than Shaku, who rides a monstrous black cloud serpent crackling with dark lightning. Shaku informs the monks that his master, the lord of the Order of the Black Lotus, knows of their goal and has been impressed by their actions, and is willing to work with them to see the dragons restored. Shaku tells the monks and the dragons to wait for his master to contact them soon, before departing astride his cloud serpent mount.


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The Well at Darkbreach
The monks and the red dragon Dagoristraz travel to the Twilight Highlands, to the well of power located in the Darkbreach canyon. Though the well of power was tainted by the Void, the recent defeat of the Void Lords' forces in the Voidlands has caused the darkness to recede from the region. Dagoristraz is able to extract some of the last of the pure water from the well. However, no sooner do the monks and Dagoristraz secure their prize, then dark energy begins pouring into the region. Void entities manifest themselves, and aqir forces in the form of nerubian and mantid assault the area. A prolonged battle takes place, which culminates in the appearance of a mighty Twilight Dragon Stygizax, who appears in support of the Void forces. Dagoristraz sacrifices his life to destroy the Twilight Dragon, whose demise banishes the darkness and causes the enemy forces to retreat. The monks and the dragons recover the well waters and recover the pure essence of a red dragon from Dagoristraz, vowing that his sacrifice will not be in vain.

The Well of Eternity
Having acquired water from the four lesser wells of power, the monks and the dragons now require the waters from the original source, the Well of Eternity, which now exists atop Mount Hyjal, beneath the world tree Nordrassil. Andrastraz and the others gather at the well, extracting a sample of its waters and combining it with the waters from the other wells of power. Andrastraz also contributes the essence of Dagoristraz, as well as essence from Tyrigosa, Numadormi, and Alyanikus, leaving only the essence of a pure black dragon missing. Wrathion and Ebyssian are the only known black dragon on Azeroth who remains pure, and with Wrathion's whereabouts a mystery the dragons decide to seek out Ebyssian on the Broken Isles.

The monks and their dragon allies depart for Highmountain and seek out Ebyssian's hidden lair. However, to their horror, the monks find the noble black dragon slain, his body impaled on a great spear that still crackles with lightning. Andrastraz determines that the body of Ebyssian has been leeched of essence already, and there is no way to salvage more. Shaku appears, revealing that the dragon was slain by none other than Wrathion, and that the Black Lotus has learned that Wrathion has left Azeroth and traveled to Outland, where more black dragons dwell. Shaku informs the monk that he cannot leave Azeroth, and gives the monk a black jewel, a symbol of the Black Lotus, promising the support of the order in stopping Wrathion.


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The Black Dragons of Outland
The monks and their allies race to Outland and travel to the Blade's Edge Mountain, where the black dragon Sabellian and his brood nest. Sabellian and the black dragons of Outland escaped the influence of Deathwing and his Old God masters during the Cataclysm, but the black dragons still contain the corruption wrought in them by the Old Gods thousands of years ago. Although Sabellian has largely remained free of their direct influence, when Wrathion learned that more corrupt black dragons existed he was driven to destroy them. The monks and their allies arrive in Blade's Edge, where Wrathion and a band of mogu mercenaries are facing down Sabellian in his lair. Just as the monks reach the battle, Wrathion uses the power of the Titans at his call to strike down Sabellian, before sending his mogu to slaughter the remaining black drakes and smash the black eggs. While the dragons appeal to Wrathion to stop his actions and join them in restoring the dragonflights, Wrathion is adamant that only he and he alone can secure the future of all worlds.


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Wrathion's summoned Titan power strikes down the monks and their allies, just as the mogu return. Mogu sorcerers tear open a dark portal back to Azeroth, informing Wrathion that their master awaits to fulfill his bargain with the young black dragon. Wrathion lets slip that the mogu mercenaries are agents of the Black Lotus before departing.

Battle at the Sanctum of Balance
After the disastrous encounter with Wrathion, the monks and the dragons race back to the Sanctum of Balance only to encounter greater disaster still. The Sanctum has come under assault by Black Lotus forces - mogu, mantid, saurok, even pandaren loyal to the Black Lotus assault the defenders of the Sanctum. The monks and their dragon allies leap into the fray, and the battle intensifies when Shaku appears with sha reinforcements for the Black Lotus. At the climax of the battle, Wrathion appears, subduing all forces gathered and stealing the Waters of the Titans and the Record of Ra that the monks and their allies gathered, before departing with Shaku.


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Journey to the Caverns of Time
In the aftermath of the Black Lotus' assault on the Sanctum of Balance, the dragons nearly descend into despair. All their efforts to gather the necessary items to restore their race have been for nought. But the monks of the Sanctum inspire the dragons to keep fighting. The monks and dragons have one way to finding out how to stop Wrathion and his scheme; Numadormi and the monks will travel to the Caverns of Time and examine Wrathion's timestream, learning the details of his deal with the Black Lotus and where he will be to meet with their mysterious master. The monks and Numadormi race to the Caverns of Time, and after a brief encounter with Soridormi enter the timeways and seek out Wrathion's history. The monks and Numadormi witness Wrathion's meeting with the Black Lotus' master in the depths of the Throne of Thunder, though the entity remains shrouded in mystical darkness.


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Numadormi and the monks pursue Wrathion's timeline, witnessing his confrontation with Ebyssian in Highmountain. Ebyssian reaches out to Wrathion, but the appearance of Shaku turns the encounter deadly.


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 * Suddenly, Shaku appears in a swirl of darkness.


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 * Ebonhorn transforms into his true, draconic shape.


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 * Ebyssian rears to attack Shaku.


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 * Wrathion conjures a Lightning Lance and hurls it into Ebyssian, killing him in an instant.


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 * Wrathion blasts Shaku to the ground with a bolt of lightning.


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Numadormi and the monks pursue Wrathion's timeline further, finally locating the moment he and the master of the Black Lotus reveal their plan.


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With the final vision, the monks and Numadormi have the key - Wrathion will meet with the Master of the Black Lotus at Galakrond's Rest, where Wrathion intends to transform himself into a Dragon Aspect. The dragons and the monks gather to discuss Wrathion's plot. While Andrastraz wavers at interfering, wondering if Wrathion becoming a powerful new Aspect might be the very key they need to fulfill their dream, the rest of the dragons sway him to stand with all mortals against the birth of a new potential Deathwing. Andrastraz and Numadormi propose one final use of the Caverns of Time - they will witness the creation of the first Aspects by the Titanforged, learning the ritual first hand so that they are prepared to deal with what Wrathion intends. The monks and the dragons witness the Titanforged Keepers creating the Aspects and their dragonflights before traveling with all speed to Northrend to find Wrathion and the Black Lotus Master.

The Final Aspect
At Galakrond's Rest, the monks and dragons find Wrathion and the forces of the Black Lotus, their strongest warriors mounted on black cloud serpents. While Wrathion begins the ritual to transform himself into an Aspect, the dragons take to the air against the serpent-mounted Lotus warriors while the monks engage the Lotus ground forces. As the battle reaches a fever pitch, Shaku appears and attacks the monks alongside the sha. When pressed, Shaku absorbs the other sha and transforms into the monstrous Sha of Greed, attacking the monks with even greater savagery.

As Shaku rampages against the monks, the mysterious master of the Black Lotus finally reveals himself - emerging from a fog of darkness is an enormous black cloud serpent, crackling with sorcerous lightning. The serpent reveals itself as Chang'Tzun, the Master of the Black Lotus. As Chang'Tzun appears, Wrathion completes his preparations, and the ritual begins. Surrounded by the essence of the five dragonflights, empowered by the waters of the well and the power of the Titans, Wrathion's body begins to pulse with energy and rises into the air above Galakrond's Rest.


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 * Chang'Tzun bradishs the black gem he received from Wrathion. The black gem pulses with energy that begins to affect Wrathion.


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 * Wrathion writhes in pain as Chang'Tzun's spell takes effect.


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Chang'Tzun attempts to merge his power with Wrathion in an effort to control the dragon's growing power. Moments before Wrathion succumbs, the other dragons rally to him and fight back against Chang'Tzun's spell. The monks overcome Shaku and disperse his monstrous form, forcing him to revert to his humanoid shape and retreat, just as the dragons combine their magic with Wrathion and break Chang'Tzun's spell. The black serpent is overwhelmed by Wrathion's unleashed Titan powers and plummets from the skies, crashing into the earth below. The spell of Ascension infuses itself into the enchanted waters, rather than transforming Wrathion.


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 * Darkness cloaks the black serpent.


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Chang'Tzun vanishes and the Black Lotus forces retreat. The dragons convince Wrathion to aid them, and he contributes the essence of a pure black dragon to their spell. However, even with all the powers the dragons have acquired, the spell is still incomplete - not enough power from the Titans exists to accomplish their goal. In the end, Wrathion surrenders the power of the Titans that he gained from the heart of Lei Shen and imbues it into the Sanctum.


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With the power of the Titans imbued into the water of the vale and the renewed sanctums, the Sanctum of Balance is complete and the dragons are restored to a fertile race, allowing for more dragons in the future to be born.

The Further Campaign
The Sanctum of Balance is complete and the dragons are restored, but their new future is something that must be fought for. Darkness threatens the world from deep below, and the black serpent Chang'Tzun and his Black Lotus are still at large, seeking the secrets of Deathwing's Chromatic and Twilight Dragonflight experiments. The monks and their dragon allies will need to be ready when the wily serpent makes his next move.