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| capital = {{Neutral}} [[Oribos]] |
| capital = {{Neutral}} [[Oribos]] |
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| races = [[#Inhabitants|Various]] |
| races = [[#Inhabitants|Various]] |
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− | | rulers = <!--Pantheon of the Shadowlands-->{{NPC||Arbiter||The Arbiter|icon=Arbiter}}<br/> {{NPC||The Jailer|icon=TheJailer}}<br/> {{NPC||Kyrestia the Firstborne|icon=Kyrestia}}<br/> {{NPC||Winter Queen|icon=WinterQueen}}<br/> {{NPC||Sire Denathrius|icon=Denathrius}}<br/> {{NPC||Primus||The Primus|icon=Primus}} |
+ | | rulers = <!--Pantheon of the Shadowlands-->{{NPC||Arbiter||The Arbiter|icon=Arbiter}}<br/> {{NPC||The Jailer|icon=TheJailer}}<br/> {{NPC||Kyrestia the Firstborne|icon=Kyrestia}}<br/> {{NPC||Winter Queen||The Winter Queen|icon=WinterQueen}}<br/> {{NPC||Denathrius||Sire Denathrius|icon=Denathrius}}<br/> {{NPC||Primus||The Primus|icon=Primus}} |
| affiliation = [[Kyrian Covenant|Kyrian]], [[Mawsworn]], [[Necrolord Covenant|Necrolords]], [[Night Fae Covenant|Night Fae]], [[Venthyr Covenant|Venthyr]] |
| affiliation = [[Kyrian Covenant|Kyrian]], [[Mawsworn]], [[Necrolord Covenant|Necrolords]], [[Night Fae Covenant|Night Fae]], [[Venthyr Covenant|Venthyr]] |
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| loc = |
| loc = |
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}} |
}} |
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− | {{QuoteWiki| |
+ | {{QuoteWiki|Death was not the end I believed it to be. No rest or joyous reunions in the Light awaited me. What I witnessed challenged all I knew. With my final breath, I saw impossible places—worlds within worlds brimming with beings that defied description. It wasn't until the Helm of Domination was placed upon my head that I understood the truth I had seen: Death is not an end, but a beginning.|[[Bolvar Fordragon]]<ref>''[[The Art of World of Warcraft: Shadowlands]]'', pg. 5</ref>}} |
− | '''The Shadowlands''' ([[#Other names|see below for other names and denotations]]) are |
+ | '''The Shadowlands''' ([[#Other names|see below for other names and denotations]]) are the realm of [[Death]], an infinite [[plane]] where the [[soul]]s of deceased mortals go to be reborn, serve, find peace, do battle, or endure endless torment.<ref>{{Ref web|url=https://worldofwarcraft.com/en-us/news/23187287/|title=World of Warcraft at BlizzCon® 2019 News Round-Up|author={{Blizz|Blizzard Entertainment}}|date=2019-11-02|accessdate=2021-03-07}}</ref> The Shadowlands exist on the edge of reality,<ref name="What's Next">{{Ref web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Q67Upjq7H8|title=<nowiki>BlizzCon 2019 | World of Warcraft: What's Next | Full Panel</nowiki>|author={{Blizz|Blizzard Entertainment}}|date=2019-11-26|publisher=YouTube}}</ref> separated from the [[Great Dark Beyond|physical universe]] by a barrier known as the [[Veil]], and consist of an infinite number of diverse afterlives sustained by the flow of [[anima]] from the recently dead. Mortal souls who cross the Veil between life and death arrive at the Eternal City of [[Oribos]] and are judged by the [[Arbiter]], who then assigns them to the afterlife that suits them most, the largest and most significant of which are ruled by a pantheon of [[Eternal Ones]] and powerful orders known as [[covenant]]s, each with its own unique role in maintaining the ecosystem of the afterlife.<ref name="What's Next"/><ref name="Panel Recap">{{Ref web|url=https://worldofwarcraft.com/en-us/news/23187291/|title=World of Warcraft: What’s Next Panel Recap|author={{Blizz|Blizzard Entertainment}}|date=2019-11-01|accessdate=2019-11-02}}</ref> |
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− | The origins of the Shadowlands remain uncertain, but they have existed ever since [[mortal]] life first arose in the [[Great Dark Beyond|physical universe]].<ref name="WoWCV·12"/> They span all [[world]]s, including [[Azeroth]], on which [[Icecrown]] serves as an anchor to the Shadowlands.<ref>[[Jailor of the Damned]]</ref> Until recently, the nature of the shadowlands have been mysterious, with the living knowing only the borders, a realm of cold, decay and languishing undead. There are those who believe mortal souls are drawn into this dark place when they die, remaining there forever. Others hope their souls will go on to a brighter place.<ref name="WoWCV·12"/> |
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− | Mortal souls who cross the [[veil]] between [[life]] and [[death]] are judged by the mysterious [[Arbiter]], who sends them off to one of the infinite realms of the Shadowlands that suits them most, each ruled by a powerful [[Covenant]] with its own unique role in maintaining the ecosystem of the afterlife.<ref name="What's Next"/><ref name="Panel Recap">{{Ref web|url=https://worldofwarcraft.com/en-us/news/23187291/|title=World of Warcraft: What’s Next Panel Recap|author={{Blizz|Blizzard Entertainment}}|date=2019-11-01|accessdate=2019-11-02}}</ref> |
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==Description== |
==Description== |
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[[File:Arbiter by Peter Mohrbacher.jpg|thumb|Within the [[Arbiter]]'s [[Crucible (Oribos)|Chamber]] are gateways to the infinite realms of the Shadowlands.]] |
[[File:Arbiter by Peter Mohrbacher.jpg|thumb|Within the [[Arbiter]]'s [[Crucible (Oribos)|Chamber]] are gateways to the infinite realms of the Shadowlands.]] |
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[[File:Chronicle Shadowlands.jpg|thumb|left|The Shadowlands represented in ''[[World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1|Chronicle Volume 1]]''.]] |
[[File:Chronicle Shadowlands.jpg|thumb|left|The Shadowlands represented in ''[[World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1|Chronicle Volume 1]]''.]] |
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− | [[Spirit Healer|Spirit healers]] decide when it's time for a mortal [[soul]] to pass into the Shadowlands.<ref name="Panel Recap"/> When a mortal dies and their soul crosses the |
+ | Until recently, the nature of the Shadowlands was obscure, with the living knowing the realm only as a cold and nightmarish place of labyrinthine spiritual planes. While many believe that souls of the dead languish in the Shadowlands forever, others hope their souls will go on to a brighter place.<ref name="WoWCV·12">{{Ref WoWCV1|12}}</ref> [[Spirit Healer|Spirit healers]] decide when it's time for a mortal [[soul]] to pass into the Shadowlands.<ref name="Panel Recap"/> When a mortal dies and their soul crosses the [[Veil]] between life and death, it is shepherded by the [[kyrian]] to [[Oribos]] so that they can be judged by the impassive [[Arbiter]].<ref name="Bastion Preview">{{Ref web|url=https://worldofwarcraft.com/en-us/news/23187292/|title=Shadowlands Preview: Bastion and the Kyrian Covenant|author={{Blizz|Blizzard Entertainment}}|date=2019-11-01|accessdate=2019-11-02}}</ref> All of the soul's contents—deeds, misdeeds, thoughts, accomplishments, and failures—are laid bare before the Arbiter, who then judges in a mere instant and sends the soul through one of the gateways in her chamber to one of the infinite realms of the Shadowlands, the largest of which are ruled over by powerful [[Covenant]]s.<ref name="What's Next"/><ref name="Panel Recap"/><ref>[[The Path to Bastion]]</ref> The Covenants are ancient and powerful orders who have existed since the Shadowlands were shaped long ago, and who bear sacred duties to help maintain the afterlife's ecosystem. Not every soul is filtered into the main four Covenants.<ref name="Panel Recap"/> Each soul brings with it a vital force known as [[anima]], the product of all of the soul's experiences and actions in life. Anima is the lifeblood of the Shadowlands, making trees grow and rivers flow and is the source that's drawn upon to conduct the magic of death. Great souls—both good and evil—have a lot of anima, while those who have lived humbler lives have less.<ref name="What's Next"/><ref name="Panel Recap"/> Four of the realms—[[Ardenweald]], [[Bastion]], [[Maldraxxus]], and [[Revendreth]]—are especially vital to the functioning of the Shadowlands. However, there could be infinite afterlives, some small and tailored to a single person while others are vast and full of either splendor or torment. All interpretations of the afterlife held by mortal cultures are possible somewhere within the Shadowlands.<ref name="MrGM Danuser">{{Ref web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YphELY-QQss&t=23m30s|title=Blizzcon Shadowlands Interview: Frank Kowalkowski & Steve Danuser - Titanforging/Tier Sets & More! (23:30 - 25:00)|author=MrGM|publisher=YouTube|date=2019-11-02|accessdate=2019-11-02}}</ref><ref>{{Ref web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/hnewman/2020/07/17/how-warcraft-shadowlands-story-unfolds-and-why-its-not-all-guest-stars/|title=How Warcraft: Shadowlands’ Story Unfolds, And Why It’s Not All Guest Stars|author=Heather Newman|publisher=Forbes|date=2020-07-17|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200718165043if_/https://www.forbes.com/sites/hnewman/2020/07/17/how-warcraft-shadowlands-story-unfolds-and-why-its-not-all-guest-stars/#6275f66355d4|archivedate=2020-07-18}}</ref><ref name="Lorekeeper">{{Ref web|url=http://lorekeeper.net/en/maldraxxus-shadowlands-and-beyond-interview-with-steve-danuser/|title=Maldraxxus, Shadowlands and Beyond - Interview with Steve Danuser|author=Ezgi Pajecki|publisher=Lorekeeper|date=2020-09-26|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927142456/http://lorekeeper.net/en/maldraxxus-shadowlands-and-beyond-interview-with-steve-danuser/|archivedate=2020-09-27}}</ref><ref>{{Ref web|url=https://sagamer.co.za/2020/07/09/interview-with-world-of-warcraft-art-director-ely-cannon/|title=Interview with World of Warcraft art director Ely Cannon|author=Garth Holden|publisher=SA Gamer|date=2020-07-09|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804105710/https://sagamer.co.za/2020/07/09/interview-with-world-of-warcraft-art-director-ely-cannon/|archivedate=2020-08-04}}</ref> Because souls are constantly crossing over from the mortal plane, that means new afterlives manifest to meet the needs of the Shadowlands.<ref name="JudgehypeInterview" /> |
Between each realm is a cloudy space known as the [[In-Between]] which was once rich with streams of anima connecting the different domains, but the current anima drought has caused the realms to become cut off from one another, breeding fear and mistrust among the inhabitants.<ref name="MrGM Danuser"/> |
Between each realm is a cloudy space known as the [[In-Between]] which was once rich with streams of anima connecting the different domains, but the current anima drought has caused the realms to become cut off from one another, breeding fear and mistrust among the inhabitants.<ref name="MrGM Danuser"/> |
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Souls are not necessarily permanently stuck in their assigned afterlives. When the machinery of Death functioned the way it was supposed to, souls who had completed obligations in one realm sometimes had the opportunity to travel to some of the other realms of the Shadowlands. For example, romantic partners who are initially sent to different realms may eventually find an afterlife they can share together.<ref name="Lorekeeper"/><ref>{{Ref web|url=https://www.wowhead.com/news=316807/|title=Shadowlands Lore Interview with Lead Narrative Designer Steve Danuser - Elune, Sylvanas, Calia|author=perculia|publisher=Wowhead|date=2020-07-09|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200709151148/https://www.wowhead.com/news=316807/shadowlands-lore-interview-with-lead-narrative-designer-steve-danuser-elune-sylv|archivedate=2020-07-09}}</ref> |
Souls are not necessarily permanently stuck in their assigned afterlives. When the machinery of Death functioned the way it was supposed to, souls who had completed obligations in one realm sometimes had the opportunity to travel to some of the other realms of the Shadowlands. For example, romantic partners who are initially sent to different realms may eventually find an afterlife they can share together.<ref name="Lorekeeper"/><ref>{{Ref web|url=https://www.wowhead.com/news=316807/|title=Shadowlands Lore Interview with Lead Narrative Designer Steve Danuser - Elune, Sylvanas, Calia|author=perculia|publisher=Wowhead|date=2020-07-09|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200709151148/https://www.wowhead.com/news=316807/shadowlands-lore-interview-with-lead-narrative-designer-steve-danuser-elune-sylv|archivedate=2020-07-09}}</ref> |
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⚫ | The Shadowlands transcend all worlds and realities, as evidenced with [[Soulbinder Nyami]]<ref>[[Unholy Attainment: Essence of Shadow]]</ref> and the loa being able to use their power on [[Draenor (alternate universe)|alternate Draenor]].<ref>[[The Blessing of Samedi]]</ref><ref>[[I Help Ya Kill Dem]]</ref> All alternate versions of the same mortal are more or less part of the same being, such as in the case with [[Draka]], using an analogy of a rope with different threads which can be pulled off, but which "at some time come together to make that rope" and eventually come together as one being in the Shadowlands.<ref name="Lorekeeper"/> |
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When a soul is called from the afterlife, it is free to roam the material realm if it is not restrained within moments of its arrival.<ref>[[Soul Coffer (item)]]</ref> Mortal souls that cross over and are brought back do not appear, however, to retain defined memories of what they experienced in the Shadowlands.<ref name="JudgehypeInterview">[https://worldofwarcraft.judgehype.com/news/interview-de-steve-danuser-sur-l-histoire-de-shadowlands-164320/ Judgehype - Interview de Steve Danuser sur l'histoire de Shadowlands]</ref> A spirit in the Shadowlands can, with enough power over other souls, tear a hole into the living world once they are strong enough. This is how [[Jin'do]] returned to Azeroth.<ref>[[Break the Godbreaker]]</ref> |
When a soul is called from the afterlife, it is free to roam the material realm if it is not restrained within moments of its arrival.<ref>[[Soul Coffer (item)]]</ref> Mortal souls that cross over and are brought back do not appear, however, to retain defined memories of what they experienced in the Shadowlands.<ref name="JudgehypeInterview">[https://worldofwarcraft.judgehype.com/news/interview-de-steve-danuser-sur-l-histoire-de-shadowlands-164320/ Judgehype - Interview de Steve Danuser sur l'histoire de Shadowlands]</ref> A spirit in the Shadowlands can, with enough power over other souls, tear a hole into the living world once they are strong enough. This is how [[Jin'do]] returned to Azeroth.<ref>[[Break the Godbreaker]]</ref> |
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[[Time]] is perceived differently in the Shadowlands. Time and Death are not related, as Death is about eternity and not linear time.<ref name="Lorekeeper"/> Time is a construct of order and structure, but circumstances in the Shadowlands are more chaotic. To a soul in the Shadowlands, it can therefore feel like eons have passed since their arrival whereas only a few months or years have elapsed in the world of the living, much like a dream in which a significant period of time can seem to pass even though one has only slept for a few hours.<ref>{{Ref web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4w2FqtWToM&t=8m35s|title=Entrevista a Ion Hazzikostas sobre Shadowlands <nowiki>| Shadowlands interview with Ion Hazzikostas [EN/ES]</nowiki> (08:35)|author=WoWChakra|publisher=YouTube|date=2020-05-15|accessdate=2020-05-19}}</ref><ref>{{Ref web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMQjUIo5wBc&t=6m15s|title=<nowiki>…SCOURGE INVASION! Pre-Patch, Shadowland’s Anti Grind, LESS RNG, New Gearing + MORE | Ion Interview (06:15 - 08:40)</nowiki>|author=Bellular|publisher=YouTube|date=2020-07-13|accessdate=2020-09-27}}</ref> The [[Alliance]] and [[Horde]] leaders who were imprisoned in the [[Maw]] by the [[Mawsworn]] felt as if they were trapped for weeks or longer, enough for them to make countless escape attempts and for [[Jaina Proudmoore]] to feel as if time had lost all meaning, whereas far less time elapsed in the mortal world.<ref>[[A Flight from Darkness]]</ref><ref>[[A Moment's Respite]]</ref> Nevertheless, time of some kind seems to exist, as the [[Primus]], before leaving his realm and disappearing, had an ally able to peer into the timeways to see every possible outcome for his military and its various tactics in order to determine the best possible ones.<ref name="SA Gamer">{{Ref web|url=https://sagamer.co.za/2020/09/24/a-deep-dive-into-maldraxxus-the-defenders-of-death/|title=A deep dive into Maldraxxus, the defenders of Death|author=Garth Holden|publisher=SA Gamer|date=2020-09-24|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924191925/https://sagamer.co.za/2020/09/24/a-deep-dive-into-maldraxxus-the-defenders-of-death/|archivedate=2020-09-24}}</ref> |
[[Time]] is perceived differently in the Shadowlands. Time and Death are not related, as Death is about eternity and not linear time.<ref name="Lorekeeper"/> Time is a construct of order and structure, but circumstances in the Shadowlands are more chaotic. To a soul in the Shadowlands, it can therefore feel like eons have passed since their arrival whereas only a few months or years have elapsed in the world of the living, much like a dream in which a significant period of time can seem to pass even though one has only slept for a few hours.<ref>{{Ref web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4w2FqtWToM&t=8m35s|title=Entrevista a Ion Hazzikostas sobre Shadowlands <nowiki>| Shadowlands interview with Ion Hazzikostas [EN/ES]</nowiki> (08:35)|author=WoWChakra|publisher=YouTube|date=2020-05-15|accessdate=2020-05-19}}</ref><ref>{{Ref web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMQjUIo5wBc&t=6m15s|title=<nowiki>…SCOURGE INVASION! Pre-Patch, Shadowland’s Anti Grind, LESS RNG, New Gearing + MORE | Ion Interview (06:15 - 08:40)</nowiki>|author=Bellular|publisher=YouTube|date=2020-07-13|accessdate=2020-09-27}}</ref> The [[Alliance]] and [[Horde]] leaders who were imprisoned in the [[Maw]] by the [[Mawsworn]] felt as if they were trapped for weeks or longer, enough for them to make countless escape attempts and for [[Jaina Proudmoore]] to feel as if time had lost all meaning, whereas far less time elapsed in the mortal world.<ref>[[A Flight from Darkness]]</ref><ref>[[A Moment's Respite]]</ref> Nevertheless, time of some kind seems to exist, as the [[Primus]], before leaving his realm and disappearing, had an ally able to peer into the timeways to see every possible outcome for his military and its various tactics in order to determine the best possible ones.<ref name="SA Gamer">{{Ref web|url=https://sagamer.co.za/2020/09/24/a-deep-dive-into-maldraxxus-the-defenders-of-death/|title=A deep dive into Maldraxxus, the defenders of Death|author=Garth Holden|publisher=SA Gamer|date=2020-09-24|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924191925/https://sagamer.co.za/2020/09/24/a-deep-dive-into-maldraxxus-the-defenders-of-death/|archivedate=2020-09-24}}</ref> |
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− | During the [[Day of the Dead]], the Shadowlands draw closer to Azeroth.<ref>[https://worldofwarcraft.com/en-us/news/11468446 The Day of the Dead has Arrived]: "Can you feel it? The spirit world draws close during the Day of the Dead."</ref> |
+ | On [[Azeroth]], [[Icecrown]] serves as an anchor to the Shadowlands.<ref>[[Jailor of the Damned]]</ref> During the [[Day of the Dead]], the Shadowlands draw closer to Azeroth.<ref>[https://worldofwarcraft.com/en-us/news/11468446 The Day of the Dead has Arrived]: "Can you feel it? The spirit world draws close during the Day of the Dead."</ref> |
The border between the Shadowlands and the living world is the [[Veil]], which looks like the living world in greyscale.<ref>[[To Cross the Veil]]</ref> |
The border between the Shadowlands and the living world is the [[Veil]], which looks like the living world in greyscale.<ref>[[To Cross the Veil]]</ref> |
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+ | Other planes like [[Helheim]] and [[Thros]] are connected to the Shadowlands but not contained inside it. |
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==History== |
==History== |
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+ | The origins of the Shadowlands remain uncertain, but they have existed ever since [[mortal]] life first arose in the physical universe.<ref name="WoWCV·12"/> |
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When [[Sylvanas Windrunner]] killed herself in [[Icecrown Citadel]], she found herself in the darkness where she encountered nine Val'kyr that remained in service to the [[Scourge]]. While there, the partnership between Sylvanas and [[the Jailer]] started.<ref>[https://www.wowhead.com/news=296023/the-jailer-is-the-main-villain-of-shadowlands-working-with-sylvanas-since-edge-o wowhead] - BlizzCon 2019: A: We'll find out more of her motivations in Shadowlands and that her relationship with the Jailer dates back a bit. Edge of Night story involves this relationship. Working with Varian was a long term strategy in order to get war chief - had to make allies but now we're seeing the fruition of that.</ref> |
When [[Sylvanas Windrunner]] killed herself in [[Icecrown Citadel]], she found herself in the darkness where she encountered nine Val'kyr that remained in service to the [[Scourge]]. While there, the partnership between Sylvanas and [[the Jailer]] started.<ref>[https://www.wowhead.com/news=296023/the-jailer-is-the-main-villain-of-shadowlands-working-with-sylvanas-since-edge-o wowhead] - BlizzCon 2019: A: We'll find out more of her motivations in Shadowlands and that her relationship with the Jailer dates back a bit. Edge of Night story involves this relationship. Working with Varian was a long term strategy in order to get war chief - had to make allies but now we're seeing the fruition of that.</ref> |
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===Zones=== |
===Zones=== |
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*{{Sl-inline}} [[Maw|The Maw]] (50 - 60) |
*{{Sl-inline}} [[Maw|The Maw]] (50 - 60) |
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+ | **[[Patch 9.1]] will add new areas to the Maw including [[Korthia]], it's currently unclear if Korthia will be an area or a separate zone |
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*{{Sl-inline}} [[Bastion]] (50 - 60, Storyline 50 - 52) |
*{{Sl-inline}} [[Bastion]] (50 - 60, Storyline 50 - 52) |
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*{{Sl-inline}} [[Maldraxxus]] (50 - 60, Storyline 52 - 54) |
*{{Sl-inline}} [[Maldraxxus]] (50 - 60, Storyline 52 - 54) |
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*{{portal|Sanguine Depths|sl}} |
*{{portal|Sanguine Depths|sl}} |
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*{{portal|Torghast, Tower of the Damned|sl}} |
*{{portal|Torghast, Tower of the Damned|sl}} |
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− | *{{portal|Castle Nathria |
+ | *{{portal|Castle Nathria|raid}} |
==Appearances== |
==Appearances== |
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− | ===Mists of Pandaria=== |
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− | {{mop-section}} |
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===Legion=== |
===Legion=== |
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{{Legion-section}} |
{{Legion-section}} |
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*Death knight champions have interactions with characters that have been to the Shadowlands: |
*Death knight champions have interactions with characters that have been to the Shadowlands: |
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**[[Dark Summoner Marogh]] came a long way to Acherus from deep within the realm of the Shadowlands.<ref>[[Recruiting the Troops (death knight)]]</ref> |
**[[Dark Summoner Marogh]] came a long way to Acherus from deep within the realm of the Shadowlands.<ref>[[Recruiting the Troops (death knight)]]</ref> |
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**[[Knights of the Ebon Blade]] were sent to the Shadowlands to acquire the Aggregates of Anguish, five tormented essences of powerful souls - [[Admiral Proudmoore]], [[Soulbinder Nyami]], [[Grand Empress Shek'zeer]], [[Grand Apothecary Putress]] and [[Archmage Arugal]]. Salanaar required these to conjure the Steeds of the Damned for the order's new [[Four Horsemen#The Horsemen of the Ebon Blade|Horsemen]].<ref>[[Aggregates of Anguish]]</ref> |
**[[Knights of the Ebon Blade]] were sent to the Shadowlands to acquire the Aggregates of Anguish, five tormented essences of powerful souls - [[Admiral Proudmoore]], [[Soulbinder Nyami]], [[Grand Empress Shek'zeer]], [[Grand Apothecary Putress]] and [[Archmage Arugal]]. Salanaar required these to conjure the Steeds of the Damned for the order's new [[Four Horsemen#The Horsemen of the Ebon Blade|Horsemen]].<ref>[[Aggregates of Anguish]]</ref> |
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*[[A Dark Place]], entered by a portal at the [[Emerald Dragonshrine]], is an area where "the barrier between the realms of life and death are thin".<ref name="SpiritHealer">[[Spirit Healer#Quotes|Spirit Healer dialogue]]</ref> Adventurers travel here to save a young [[eredar]] ghost named [[Uuna]] from creatures called [[Soul-Eater]]s mysterious denizens of the dark place that cannot be harmed by mortals.<ref name="SpiritHealer"/> |
*[[A Dark Place]], entered by a portal at the [[Emerald Dragonshrine]], is an area where "the barrier between the realms of life and death are thin".<ref name="SpiritHealer">[[Spirit Healer#Quotes|Spirit Healer dialogue]]</ref> Adventurers travel here to save a young [[eredar]] ghost named [[Uuna]] from creatures called [[Soul-Eater]]s mysterious denizens of the dark place that cannot be harmed by mortals.<ref name="SpiritHealer"/> |
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Beings of death are ancient and powerful, and it is dangerous to meddle in their realm. When [[Odyn]] peered into the Shadowlands, he saw some of its inhabitants: souls in torment, the husks of the dead, ghostly wraiths with no face, and others with no form, all made of death itself. This was enough to frighten even him.<ref name="The Legend of Odyn">[[The Legend of Odyn]]</ref> |
Beings of death are ancient and powerful, and it is dangerous to meddle in their realm. When [[Odyn]] peered into the Shadowlands, he saw some of its inhabitants: souls in torment, the husks of the dead, ghostly wraiths with no face, and others with no form, all made of death itself. This was enough to frighten even him.<ref name="The Legend of Odyn">[[The Legend of Odyn]]</ref> |
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− | Many beings in the Shadowlands are souls of deceased mortals, some of which have been transformed to serve a new purpose, such as the [[kyrian]] of [[Bastion]]. Other creatures—such as [[dredger]]s and [[steward]]s—are endemic to the Shadowlands and are naturally born from the magic of Death to serve the different realms and help facilitate the process of the afterlife.<ref name="Warcraft Radio Hight and Cash">{{Ref web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHFYGcRVX_A&t=10m15s|title=John Hight & Johnny Cash SHADOWLANDS Interview! <nowiki>|</nowiki> BLIZZCON 2019! (10:15 - 12:40)|author=Warcraft Radio|publisher=YouTube|date=2019-11-03|accessdate=2019-11-07}}</ref><ref name="Lost Codex Danuser">{{Ref web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlOwrv8YKEg&t=18m|title=BlizzCon 2019 Interview: Steve Danuser & Frank Kowalkowski - Story and Systems <nowiki>|</nowiki> The Lost Codex (18:00 - 19:58)|author=The Lost Codex|publisher=YouTube|date=2019-11-05|accessdate=2019-11-07}}</ref> |
+ | Many beings in the Shadowlands are souls of deceased mortals, some of which have been transformed to serve a new purpose, such as the [[kyrian]] of [[Bastion]]. Other creatures—such as [[dredger]]s and [[steward]]s—are endemic to the Shadowlands and are naturally born from the magic of Death to serve the different realms and help facilitate the process of the afterlife.<ref name="Warcraft Radio Hight and Cash">{{Ref web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHFYGcRVX_A&t=10m15s|title=John Hight & Johnny Cash SHADOWLANDS Interview! <nowiki>|</nowiki> BLIZZCON 2019! (10:15 - 12:40)|author=Warcraft Radio|publisher=YouTube|date=2019-11-03|accessdate=2019-11-07}}</ref><ref name="Lost Codex Danuser">{{Ref web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlOwrv8YKEg&t=18m|title=BlizzCon 2019 Interview: Steve Danuser & Frank Kowalkowski - Story and Systems <nowiki>|</nowiki> The Lost Codex (18:00 - 19:58)|author=The Lost Codex|publisher=YouTube|date=2019-11-05|accessdate=2019-11-07}}</ref> The various races of Ardenweald are born from the land itself, such as the Tirnenn coming to be same time as the [[dream tree]]s came about and the [[faerie]]s springing from the ground. |
If a being of Death is killed on the mortal plane, their essence returns to the Shadowlands to be reformed, similar to how [[demon]]s reform in the [[Twisting Nether]].<ref name="Lorekeeper"/> However, if such a being—either the soul of a former mortal or a native being of the Shadowlands—is destroyed in the Shadowlands, they die permanently and their soul is lost forever. Their energy then disperses and joins the greater whole of the magic of Death.<ref name="GamerBraves Maldraxxus"/><ref>{{Ref web|url=https://www.polygon.com/2020/9/24/21452645/world-of-warcraft-maldraxxus-zone-preview-shadowlands-lore|title=World of Warcraft’s Maldraxxus is the grittiest zone in the Shadowlands|author=Cass Marshall|publisher=Polygon|date=2020-09-24|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924153239/https://www.polygon.com/2020/9/24/21452645/world-of-warcraft-maldraxxus-zone-preview-shadowlands-lore|archivedate=2020-09-24}}</ref><ref>{{Ref web|url=https://fr.millenium.gg/news/371980.html|title=WoW Shadowlands : Interview exclusive de Steve Danuser à propos de Maldraxxus (in French)|author=Sybia|publisher=Millenium|date=2020-09-24|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924220335/https://fr.millenium.gg/news/371980.html|archivedate=2020-09-24}}</ref> If a "workforce" creature like a dredger or steward dies, another member of the same race will eventually manifest to take the place of the one that was killed.<ref name="Warcraft Radio Hight and Cash"/><ref name="Lost Codex Danuser"/> Interestingly, [[Thanikos]] ordered to blast the corpses and sunder the souls of [[House of Rituals]] in order to prevent them from being raised by death magic to fight again.<ref>[[Double Tap]]</ref> A person that is still alive when they cross the [[veil]] into the Shadowlands, however, has a tether to their homeworld that might nudge them back to life when killed there.<ref name="JudgehypeInterview" /> |
If a being of Death is killed on the mortal plane, their essence returns to the Shadowlands to be reformed, similar to how [[demon]]s reform in the [[Twisting Nether]].<ref name="Lorekeeper"/> However, if such a being—either the soul of a former mortal or a native being of the Shadowlands—is destroyed in the Shadowlands, they die permanently and their soul is lost forever. Their energy then disperses and joins the greater whole of the magic of Death.<ref name="GamerBraves Maldraxxus"/><ref>{{Ref web|url=https://www.polygon.com/2020/9/24/21452645/world-of-warcraft-maldraxxus-zone-preview-shadowlands-lore|title=World of Warcraft’s Maldraxxus is the grittiest zone in the Shadowlands|author=Cass Marshall|publisher=Polygon|date=2020-09-24|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924153239/https://www.polygon.com/2020/9/24/21452645/world-of-warcraft-maldraxxus-zone-preview-shadowlands-lore|archivedate=2020-09-24}}</ref><ref>{{Ref web|url=https://fr.millenium.gg/news/371980.html|title=WoW Shadowlands : Interview exclusive de Steve Danuser à propos de Maldraxxus (in French)|author=Sybia|publisher=Millenium|date=2020-09-24|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924220335/https://fr.millenium.gg/news/371980.html|archivedate=2020-09-24}}</ref> If a "workforce" creature like a dredger or steward dies, another member of the same race will eventually manifest to take the place of the one that was killed.<ref name="Warcraft Radio Hight and Cash"/><ref name="Lost Codex Danuser"/> Interestingly, [[Thanikos]] ordered to blast the corpses and sunder the souls of [[House of Rituals]] in order to prevent them from being raised by death magic to fight again.<ref>[[Double Tap]]</ref> A person that is still alive when they cross the [[veil]] into the Shadowlands, however, has a tether to their homeworld that might nudge them back to life when killed there.<ref name="JudgehypeInterview" /> |
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**{{RaceIcon|Dredger2}} [[Biggun]] |
**{{RaceIcon|Dredger2}} [[Biggun]] |
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*{{RaceIcon|Steward}}{{RaceIcon|StewardDark}} [[Steward]] |
*{{RaceIcon|Steward}}{{RaceIcon|StewardDark}} [[Steward]] |
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⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
+ | *[[Boggart]] |
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;Transformed mortal souls |
;Transformed mortal souls |
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⚫ | |||
*{{RaceIcon|Drust2|Male}}{{RaceIcon|Drust2|Female}}{{RaceIcon|DrustThin}}{{RaceIcon|WickerGeist}}{{RaceIcon|DrustMonster}}[[Drust]] |
*{{RaceIcon|Drust2|Male}}{{RaceIcon|Drust2|Female}}{{RaceIcon|DrustThin}}{{RaceIcon|WickerGeist}}{{RaceIcon|DrustMonster}}[[Drust]] |
||
*{{RaceIcon|Kyrian|Male}}{{RaceIcon|Kyrian|Female}}{{RaceIcon|Forsworn|Male}}{{RaceIcon|Forsworn|Female}} [[Kyrian]] |
*{{RaceIcon|Kyrian|Male}}{{RaceIcon|Kyrian|Female}}{{RaceIcon|Forsworn|Male}}{{RaceIcon|Forsworn|Female}} [[Kyrian]] |
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;Others/Unknown |
;Others/Unknown |
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*{{RaceIcon|Soul}} The [[soul]]s of the dead dwell in the Shadowlands. |
*{{RaceIcon|Soul}} The [[soul]]s of the dead dwell in the Shadowlands. |
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⚫ | |||
*{{RaceIcon|Attendant2}}{{RaceIcon|Attendant}} [[Attendant]] |
*{{RaceIcon|Attendant2}}{{RaceIcon|Attendant}} [[Attendant]] |
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*{{RaceIcon|Broker}} [[Broker]] |
*{{RaceIcon|Broker}} [[Broker]] |
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− | *{{RaceIcon| |
+ | *{{RaceIcon|Fungarian}} [[Fungret]] |
− | *{{RaceIcon|Fungarian}} [[Fungarian]]{{fact}}<!-- Fungret --> |
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*{{RaceIcon|Ranishu}} [[Bloodlouse]] |
*{{RaceIcon|Ranishu}} [[Bloodlouse]] |
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*{{RaceIcon|Pale}} [[Soul-Eater]] and [[Skulking Horror]] |
*{{RaceIcon|Pale}} [[Soul-Eater]] and [[Skulking Horror]] |
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**{{RaceIcon|Stoneborn|Minion}} [[Stone fiend]] |
**{{RaceIcon|Stoneborn|Minion}} [[Stone fiend]] |
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**{{RaceIcon|Stoneborn|Male}}{{RaceIcon|Stoneborn|Female}} [[Stoneborn]] |
**{{RaceIcon|Stoneborn|Male}}{{RaceIcon|Stoneborn|Female}} [[Stoneborn]] |
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+ | **{{RaceIcon|CenturionColossus}}{{RaceIcon|CenturionGoliath}}{{RaceIcon|CenturionPraetor}}{{RaceIcon|CenturionGoliathDark}}{{RaceIcon|CenturionPraetorDark}} [[Centurion]] |
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⚫ | |||
+ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
{{col-end}} |
{{col-end}} |
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;Unique beings |
;Unique beings |
||
+ | *[[Eternal Ones|Pantheon of Death]]: |
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⚫ | |||
+ | **{{RaceIcon|Arbiter}} [[The Arbiter]] - Judge of the Shadowlands in [[Oribos]] |
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⚫ | *{{RaceIcon|Mueh'zala}} [[Mueh'zala]] |
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− | *{{RaceIcon| |
+ | **{{RaceIcon|Kyrestia}} [[Kyrestia the Firstborne]] - Archon of the [[Kyrian]] in [[Bastion]] |
− | *{{RaceIcon| |
+ | **{{RaceIcon|WinterQueen}} [[Winter Queen|The Winter Queen]] - Queen of the [[Night Fae]] in [[Ardenweald]] |
+ | **{{RaceIcon|Denathrius}} [[Denathrius|Sire Denathrius]] - King of the [[Venthyr]] in [[Revendreth]] |
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⚫ | |||
− | *{{RaceIcon|Primus}} The [[ |
+ | **{{RaceIcon|Primus}} [[Primus|The Primus]] - Leader of the [[Necrolords]], missing ruler of [[Maldraxxus]] |
− | *{{RaceIcon|TheJailer}} [[ |
+ | **{{RaceIcon|TheJailer}} [[Zovaal]] - Jailer of [[Torghast, Tower of the Damned|Torghast]] in the [[Maw]], The Banished One |
⚫ | *{{RaceIcon|Mueh'zala}} [[Mueh'zala]] - God of Death, he is the one that Odyn made a pact with in exchange for his eye to peer into the Shadowlands.<ref name="The Legend of Odyn"/><ref name="Odyn">{{text|yell|Mueh'zala|It be Mueh'zala who brought Helya to da Jailer's side... struck a deal for ol' Odyn's eye... and made da Banshee warchief with a whisper!}}</ref> |
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− | *{{RaceIcon|Runecarver}} The [[Runecarver]] |
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⚫ | |||
+ | *{{RaceIcon|Runecarver}} The [[Runecarver]] - Mysterious prisoner of Torghast, creator of [[Frostmourne]] and the [[Helm of Domination]]. |
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+ | *{{RaceIcon|Renathal}} [[Prince Renathal]], {{RaceIcon|Venthyr Female}} [[The Curator (venthyr)|The Curator]], and {{RaceIcon|Venthyr Female}} [[The Stonewright]] - Three venthyr made from Denathrius's will instead of mortal souls. |
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==Other names== |
==Other names== |
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{{columns|2| |
{{columns|2| |
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⚫ | |||
− | *Astral realm<ref name=WoWOSG28>''[[World of Warcraft Official Strategy Guide]]'', pg. 28</ref> |
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− | *Ghost world<ref name=itemsghostworld>[[Spectrecles]], [[Evoker's Helmet of Second Sight]], [[Druidic Helmet of Second Sight]], [[Stealther's Helmet of Second Sight]], [[Shamanistic Helmet of Second Sight]], [[Stalker's Helmet of Second Sight]], [[Overlord's Helmet of Second Sight]]</ref> |
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− | *Ghostly Void<ref>[[Timeless Spirit#Abilities]]</ref> |
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⚫ | *Other side<ref>[https://worldofwarcraft.com/en-us/shadowlands Shadowlands official site |
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*Realm of the Dead<ref>[[World of Warcraft: Shadowlands#Features]]</ref> |
*Realm of the Dead<ref>[[World of Warcraft: Shadowlands#Features]]</ref> |
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− | *Realm of Shadow<ref |
+ | *Realm of Shadow<ref>[[World of Warcraft: Shadowlands Features Overview]]</ref> |
− | * |
+ | *Realms of Death<ref>[[Pauldrons of Imperium (quest)]]</ref> |
− | * |
+ | *Spirit Realm<ref>''[[Shadows Rising]]'', pg. 179</ref> |
− | *Spirit Realm<ref>''[[Shadows Rising]]'', pg. 179</ref> / Spirit realm<ref>[[The Darkreaver Menace]]</ref> |
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− | *Spirit Void<ref>[[Shao-Tien Spirit Dagger]]</ref><ref>A buff during [[Free Spirits]] - {{Abilities|Spirit Void|id=129811|Partly immersed in the Spirit Void. Any interaction with the living will return the caster to the living world.|image=spell_warlock_demonsoul}}</ref> |
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− | *Spirit world<ref>[[Day of the Dead]]</ref><ref>[[Zarhym (NPC)]]</ref><ref name=echoofymiron>[[The Echo of Ymiron]]</ref><ref name=seeyouontheotherside/> |
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− | *World of spirits<ref name="Into the World of Spirits">[[Into the World of Spirits]]</ref> |
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}} |
}} |
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Line 201: | Line 199: | ||
===RPG notes=== |
===RPG notes=== |
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− | *[[Shadow hunter]]s deal with the darkest aspects of the |
+ | *[[Shadow hunter]]s deal with the darkest aspects of the spirit world. Their connections to powerful voodoo spirits give them the ability to curse and heal at a whim.<ref>''[[Magic & Mayhem]]'', pg. 45</ref> |
⚫ | |||
− | *The [[Plane#Inner and Outer Planes|Inner and Outer Planes]] doesn't appear to exist in [[Warcraft universe]], however, they are related to the Shadowlands.<ref name=S&L132/> |
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⚫ | *The spell called "spiritual projection" or "astral projection" brings the caster to the [[Twisting Nether]] |
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==Notes and trivia== |
==Notes and trivia== |
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[[File:Our Fallen Friends.jpg|thumb|upright|A Gilnean spirit goes into the next world.]] |
[[File:Our Fallen Friends.jpg|thumb|upright|A Gilnean spirit goes into the next world.]] |
||
− | * |
+ | *The first mention of the Shadowlands was in {{Ref WoWCV1}}. |
+ | **After ''World of Warcraft: Shadowlands'', the [[Veil]] and the Shadowlands were confirmed to be different places. |
||
*The [[Headpiece of the Shadow Council]] had a deep connection to the Shadowlands. |
*The [[Headpiece of the Shadow Council]] had a deep connection to the Shadowlands. |
||
− | *[[Spiritwalker]]s maintain a balance between the world of the living and the spirit realm.<ref>[[Walking in Their Footsteps]]</ref> |
||
*[[Dust from the Shadowlands]] from the ''Legion'' expansion provides a significant increase to character experience. |
*[[Dust from the Shadowlands]] from the ''Legion'' expansion provides a significant increase to character experience. |
||
− | *[[Spirit Spirits]] is a strong alcohol brew that gives the drinker a small glimpse into the spirit realm. |
||
− | *[[Haunting Memento]] is a toy that has the target be haunted periodically "causing the spirit world to affect them", with a buff that "haunts" them with a random assortment of spooky effects. |
||
− | *Spirits without a material manifestation are still able to send items from the Shadowlands to the living.<ref>[[Everything Will Be Alright (original)]]</ref> |
||
− | *[[Spirit healer]]s wait within the Shadowlands for those unfortunate adventurers whose spirits will soon join them. These floating figures of death and rebirth return people to life where their spirit stands.<ref name=WoWOSG28/> |
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*Death knights are able to learn the ability [[Raise Ally]] which pulls their ally's spirit back from the Realm of the Dead and forces it back into their body. Upon doing so, a "Void-Touched" debuff is applied to the player stating that: "A touch of the spirit realm still lingers..." |
*Death knights are able to learn the ability [[Raise Ally]] which pulls their ally's spirit back from the Realm of the Dead and forces it back into their body. Upon doing so, a "Void-Touched" debuff is applied to the player stating that: "A touch of the spirit realm still lingers..." |
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**Though the Shadowlands and the [[Void]] are not the same.<ref>[https://twitter.com/Muffinus/status/607780758065774593 Jeremy Feasel on Twitter]</ref> |
**Though the Shadowlands and the [[Void]] are not the same.<ref>[https://twitter.com/Muffinus/status/607780758065774593 Jeremy Feasel on Twitter]</ref> |
||
⚫ | *The Shadowlands were originally intended to be a fully playable zone in ''World of Warcraft'', designed for high-level play. The idea was that as deceased characters made their way back to their corpses, they'd see high-level players battling creeps in the area, which would inspire lower-level players to increase their character level so they could experience the zone for themselves.<ref>''Game Informer #308: Reforging Real-time Strategy''</ref> |
||
− | *In ''World of Warcraft'', some quests require the player to die in order to visit the "Shadowlands" to complete objectives. |
||
⚫ | *The Shadowlands were originally intended to be a fully playable zone in ''World of Warcraft'', designed for high-level play. The idea was that as deceased characters made their way back to their corpses, they'd see high-level players battling creeps in the area, which would inspire lower |
||
*In a number of quests spirits can be seen ascending to an afterlife: |
*In a number of quests spirits can be seen ascending to an afterlife: |
||
**[[Holy Water]] is used to sanctify the corpses of [[Reanimated Crusader]]s so that their spirits may be freed to ascend, seen ascending as [[Released Soul]]s.<ref>[[The Restless Dead]]</ref> |
**[[Holy Water]] is used to sanctify the corpses of [[Reanimated Crusader]]s so that their spirits may be freed to ascend, seen ascending as [[Released Soul]]s.<ref>[[The Restless Dead]]</ref> |
||
**Sent by [[Enohar Thunderbrew]], Alliance adventurers defeated cursed Gilnean spirits in the [[Blasted Lands]], releasing their spirits from the physical world and allowing them to pass into the next.<ref>[[Our Fallen Friends]]</ref> |
**Sent by [[Enohar Thunderbrew]], Alliance adventurers defeated cursed Gilnean spirits in the [[Blasted Lands]], releasing their spirits from the physical world and allowing them to pass into the next.<ref>[[Our Fallen Friends]]</ref> |
||
**On [[Tol Barad Peninsula]], the spirits of tortured souls are released at [[Forgotten Hill]] by paying respects to [[Forgotten soldier's Tombstone]]s, after which [[Released Spirit (Tol Barad Peninsula)|Released Spirit]]s are seen ascending.<ref>[[The Forgotten]]</ref> |
**On [[Tol Barad Peninsula]], the spirits of tortured souls are released at [[Forgotten Hill]] by paying respects to [[Forgotten soldier's Tombstone]]s, after which [[Released Spirit (Tol Barad Peninsula)|Released Spirit]]s are seen ascending.<ref>[[The Forgotten]]</ref> |
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⚫ | |||
− | *[[Resurrection]] in lore (apparently reclaiming a soul from the Shadowlands) is seemingly possible, as was the case with [[Calia Menethil]], [[Sally Whitemane]] and [[Terenas Menethil II]] resurrecting the champions fighting Arthas Menethil in Icecrown, but is very rarely touched upon, and implied to be extremely difficult, and usually applicable to only the recently deceased. It was noted by [[Tyrande Whisperwind]] that, "No priestess of [[Elune]] could bring her back now" when she observed a slain kaldorei woman who had been "dead several days".<ref>''[[Seeds of Faith]]''</ref> The World-Shaman [[Thrall]] was able to apparently revive a [[Life Warden]] slain by [[Asira Dawnslayer]] when trying to reach [[Wyrmrest Temple]] during the Cataclysm,<ref>[[To Wyrmrest!]]</ref> [[Kaylaan]] managed to resurrect [[Ishanah]] after [[Socrethar]] slew her, and the taunka shaman [[Roanauk Icemist]] brought back all his fallen warriors fighting [[Under-King Anub'et'kan]]. At the [[Netherlight Temple]], Anduin remarked that [[priest]]s are able to "sometimes" bring the dead back to life with the help of the [[Light]],<ref>"Priests healed, but their patients were flesh. They mended wounds, cured illnesses and curses, and sometimes, if the Light willed, brought the dead back to life." ''[[Before the Storm]]''</ref> which appears to be the most common method in the lore, but required the assistance of both [[Alonsus Faol]] and the naaru [[Saa'ra]] in order to successfully revive Calia as an undead infused with the [[Light|Holy Light]]. In [[Exile's Reach]], priests of both factions can resurrect [[First Expedition Recruit|Expedition recruits]] who recently died following their shipwreck, but they must hurry as long as their death is recent and their soul still present in the [[Veil]].<ref>[[A Priest's End]]</ref><ref>[[Resurrecting the Recruits]]</ref> |
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+ | *[[Resurrection]] in lore is seemingly possible and can be performed with different sources of magic: |
||
+ | **By invoking the grandeur of the [[Light]], mighty [[paladins]] can bring recently slain comrades back to life – enabling them to fight on for justice, freedom and the glory of Lordaeron.<ref>''[[Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos]]'' manual, ''[[Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos Game Manual#Paladin|Human Hero Units]]'', Paladin</ref> |
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+ | ***[[Blood Knight]] [[paladin]]s were able to use remnants of the [[naaru]] [[M'uru]]'s power to resurrect [[Sangrias Stillblade]], although it was noted that once he was dead "too long", not even the Light could bring him back to them.<ref>[[Redeeming the Dead]]</ref> |
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+ | ***The [[draenei]] paladin [[Kaylaan]] managed to resurrect [[Ishanah]] after [[Socrethar]] slew her. |
||
+ | ***According to [[Librarian Lightmorne]] at the [[Sanctum of Light]], paladins can use the Light's blessing to resurrect their allies.<ref>[[Fate's Blessing]]</ref> |
||
+ | **The World-Shaman [[Thrall]] was able to apparently revive a [[Life Warden]] slain by [[Asira Dawnslayer]] when trying to reach [[Wyrmrest Temple]] during the Cataclysm,<ref>[[To Wyrmrest!]]</ref> |
||
+ | ***The [[taunka]] [[shaman]] [[Roanauk Icemist]] brought back all his fallen warriors fighting [[Under-King Anub'et'kan]]. |
||
+ | **At the [[Netherlight Temple]], Anduin remarked that [[priest]]s are able to "sometimes" bring the dead back to life with the help of the [[Light]],<ref>"Priests healed, but their patients were flesh. They mended wounds, cured illnesses and curses, and sometimes, if the Light willed, brought the dead back to life." ''[[Before the Storm]]''</ref> which appears to be the most common method in the lore, but required the assistance of both [[Alonsus Faol]] and the naaru [[Saa'ra]] in order to successfully revive Calia as an undead infused with the [[Light|Holy Light]]. |
||
+ | ***In [[Exile's Reach]], priests of both factions can resurrect [[First Expedition Recruit|Expedition recruits]] who recently died following their shipwreck, but they must hurry as long as their death is recent and their soul still present in the [[Veil]].<ref>[[A Priest's End]]</ref><ref>[[Resurrecting the Recruits]]</ref> |
||
+ | ***It was noted by [[Tyrande Whisperwind]] that, "No priestess of [[Elune]] could bring her back now" when she observed a slain [[kaldorei]] woman who had been "dead several days".<ref>''[[Seeds of Faith]]''</ref> |
||
+ | **[[Sally Whitemane]] possessed immense capabilities of [[:resurrection]], preventing her from dying and allowing her to resurrect her champions. |
||
+ | **[[Terenas Menethil II]] resurrected the champions fighting [[Arthas Menethil]] at the [[Frozen Throne]]. |
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+ | *Cultural inspirations for each Shadowland seen thus far are wide and varied, see each page for more information. |
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+ | *Some players have observed that the four governing zones of the Shadowlands can be taken to be the four stages of each day. Ardenweald is described as "moonless {{wp|night}}", Revendreth's red sky box may be a reference to the ancient adages regarding {{wp|red sky at morning}} thus {{wp|dawn}}, Bastion almost always appears with {{wp|daylight}}, and Maldraxxus would thus be {{wp|dusk}}. Other comparisons have been attempted with the {{wp|humorism|four humors}}. |
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==Speculation== |
==Speculation== |
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{{Speculation}} |
{{Speculation}} |
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⚫ | |||
− | *Cases where references are unclear or contradicting of whether a place is in the Shadowlands or alternately another realm: |
||
− | **The "other side" is mentioned multiple times but in two cases it's unclear if it's meant to be Bwonsamdi's [[Other Side|pocket dimension]] or the Shadowlands as it relates to troll spirits passing on: |
||
− | ***{{cata-inline}} After killing [[Warlord Thresh'jin]] and throwing his body into a bonfire, [[Vex'tul]] jumps into the bonfire as an undead with free will and his spirit passed into the next realm. As the troll was saying his goodbye, he mentioned he will see you in green fields on the other side.<ref>[[Into the Flames]]</ref> |
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⚫ | |||
− | *[[Inner Veil]] is inside the "spectral realm" in the [[Kalecgos (tactics)|Kalecgos]] fight in the [[Sunwell Plateau]] raid, possibly the Shadowlands or the Veil. |
||
*When [[Lich King]] [[Arthas Menethil|Arthas]] died he spoke of "Seeing only darkness before him" while [[Sylvanas Windrunner]] said [[Cities in Dust|the same]] in [[Silverpine Forest]] after being risen from the dead by the [[Val'kyr]]. They could've in both cases have been sent to the Maw, as that appears to be the place Sylvanas was sent to when she killed herself in Icecrown Citadel. |
*When [[Lich King]] [[Arthas Menethil|Arthas]] died he spoke of "Seeing only darkness before him" while [[Sylvanas Windrunner]] said [[Cities in Dust|the same]] in [[Silverpine Forest]] after being risen from the dead by the [[Val'kyr]]. They could've in both cases have been sent to the Maw, as that appears to be the place Sylvanas was sent to when she killed herself in Icecrown Citadel. |
||
⚫ | |||
*[[Legion in-game cinematics|A Found Memento: Raising a King]] has Anduin Wrynn in a surprising vision see his father Varian Wrynn, it's unclear if this is a memory or perhaps a vision of Varian from some sort of afterlife in the Shadowlands. |
*[[Legion in-game cinematics|A Found Memento: Raising a King]] has Anduin Wrynn in a surprising vision see his father Varian Wrynn, it's unclear if this is a memory or perhaps a vision of Varian from some sort of afterlife in the Shadowlands. |
||
− | *[[Thros, the Blighted Lands]] may be related to the Shadowlands. This is evidenced by the fact that it bears a similarity to the Shadowlands realm of [[Ardenweald]]. Some parts of Ardenweald aren't faring as well as others and reflect the power wielded by the Drust of Kul Tiras, who are deeply connected to Ardenweald and death.<ref>{{Ref web|url=https://blizzcon.com/en-us/watch?v=5db345cf41eadce02c2f077c&eventYear=2019|title=BlizzCon 2019 - World of Warcraft: What's Next|author={{Blizz|Blizzard Entertainment}}|date=2019-11-01|accessdate=2019-11-03}}</ref> |
||
*Some [[Kul Tiras (kingdom)|Kul Tirans]] speak of a boatman that calls them after death,<ref>[[Roughneck Logger#Quotes]]</ref> and [[Jaina Proudmoore]] saw and paid the obol to a [[Daelin Proudmoore|hooded figure]],<ref>''[[Warbringers: Jaina]]''</ref> this boatman and Jaina's visions could be related to the Shadowlands. |
*Some [[Kul Tiras (kingdom)|Kul Tirans]] speak of a boatman that calls them after death,<ref>[[Roughneck Logger#Quotes]]</ref> and [[Jaina Proudmoore]] saw and paid the obol to a [[Daelin Proudmoore|hooded figure]],<ref>''[[Warbringers: Jaina]]''</ref> this boatman and Jaina's visions could be related to the Shadowlands. |
||
+ | *While the Shadowlands and [[Death]] for most of ''World of Warcraft'''s history have been associated with the most cryptic and mysterious of the cosmic powers, it has been hinted that some powers within its realms, such as the [[nathrezim]] and [[Sire Denathrius]], have nevertheless been secretly responsible for many of the major events that have occurred in the universe of the living, including the [[Burning Crusade]] and the fracturing and eventual destruction of the [[Pantheon]], as well as the eventual creation of the [[Scourge]] and the [[Lich King]] which helped pave the way for the [[Third War]].<ref>[[Enemy Infiltration - Preface]]</ref> The Pantheon of Death and their realms also seem to be at least indirectly involved in the cosmic war, with servants of the [[Light]] and [[Void]] having assaulted [[Revendreth]] and [[Bastion]] respectively in the past, [[Draka]] being dispatched to a Legion world to spy on their activities, references to Pantheon members such as [[Eonar]] and [[Norgannon]] existing in the Covenants of [[Ardenweald]] and [[Revendreth]], and the very purpose of the [[Primus]] and [[Maldraxxus]] being essentially to create an unstoppable and infinite army capable of holding its own against outside threats to the Shadowlands.<ref name="SA Gamer">{{Ref web|url=https://sagamer.co.za/2020/09/24/a-deep-dive-into-maldraxxus-the-defenders-of-death/|title=A deep dive into Maldraxxus, the defenders of Death|author=Garth Holden|publisher=SA Gamer|date=2020-09-24|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924191925/https://sagamer.co.za/2020/09/24/a-deep-dive-into-maldraxxus-the-defenders-of-death/|archivedate=2020-09-24}}</ref> |
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==Gallery== |
==Gallery== |
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<gallery> |
<gallery> |
||
⚫ | |||
WorldMap-Cosmic.jpg|[[Cosmic map]] with the Shadowlands. |
WorldMap-Cosmic.jpg|[[Cosmic map]] with the Shadowlands. |
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+ | WorldMap-ShadowlandsTaxi Detailed.jpg|[[Flight Map]], when zoomed in. |
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⚫ | |||
+ | WorldMap-Shadowlands-alpha.jpg|Map of the Shadowlands in alpha with the size of the Maw zone shown. |
||
</gallery> |
</gallery> |
||
;Player death |
;Player death |
||
<gallery> |
<gallery> |
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− | Hordeghost.jpg|A typical out of body death experience of players in Azeroth. |
||
− | DeathWithoutGlow.jpg|The sky seen by dead players in Azeroth. |
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Shadowlands player ghost.jpg|A dead player character in the Shadowlands. |
Shadowlands player ghost.jpg|A dead player character in the Shadowlands. |
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Spirit Obelisk activated.jpg|[[Spirit Obelisk]] at graveyards in the Shadowlands. |
Spirit Obelisk activated.jpg|[[Spirit Obelisk]] at graveyards in the Shadowlands. |
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==References== |
==References== |
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− | {{Reflist |
+ | {{Reflist}} |
{{Shadowlands areas}} |
{{Shadowlands areas}} |
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[[Category:Magic & Mayhem]] |
[[Category:Magic & Mayhem]] |
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[[Category:Shadows & Light]] |
[[Category:Shadows & Light]] |
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− | [[Category:Content accessible while dead]] |
Revision as of 10:58, 10 April 2021
- This article is about the realm of death. For the expansion, see World of Warcraft: Shadowlands. For the arakkoa plane, see Shadow Realm.
The Shadowlands | |
---|---|
Level: 50 - 60 | |
| |
Capital(s) | Oribos |
Races | Various |
Ruler(s) |
The Arbiter The Jailer Kyrestia the Firstborne The Winter Queen Sire Denathrius The Primus |
Affiliation | Kyrian, Mawsworn, Necrolords, Night Fae, Venthyr |
“Death was not the end I believed it to be. No rest or joyous reunions in the Light awaited me. What I witnessed challenged all I knew. With my final breath, I saw impossible places—worlds within worlds brimming with beings that defied description. It wasn't until the Helm of Domination was placed upon my head that I understood the truth I had seen: Death is not an end, but a beginning.”
The Shadowlands (see below for other names and denotations) are the realm of Death, an infinite plane where the souls of deceased mortals go to be reborn, serve, find peace, do battle, or endure endless torment.[2] The Shadowlands exist on the edge of reality,[3] separated from the physical universe by a barrier known as the Veil, and consist of an infinite number of diverse afterlives sustained by the flow of anima from the recently dead. Mortal souls who cross the Veil between life and death arrive at the Eternal City of Oribos and are judged by the Arbiter, who then assigns them to the afterlife that suits them most, the largest and most significant of which are ruled by a pantheon of Eternal Ones and powerful orders known as covenants, each with its own unique role in maintaining the ecosystem of the afterlife.[3][4]
The Shadowlands serve as the main setting of World of Warcraft's eighth expansion.[4]
Description
Until recently, the nature of the Shadowlands was obscure, with the living knowing the realm only as a cold and nightmarish place of labyrinthine spiritual planes. While many believe that souls of the dead languish in the Shadowlands forever, others hope their souls will go on to a brighter place.[5] Spirit healers decide when it's time for a mortal soul to pass into the Shadowlands.[4] When a mortal dies and their soul crosses the Veil between life and death, it is shepherded by the kyrian to Oribos so that they can be judged by the impassive Arbiter.[6] All of the soul's contents—deeds, misdeeds, thoughts, accomplishments, and failures—are laid bare before the Arbiter, who then judges in a mere instant and sends the soul through one of the gateways in her chamber to one of the infinite realms of the Shadowlands, the largest of which are ruled over by powerful Covenants.[3][4][7] The Covenants are ancient and powerful orders who have existed since the Shadowlands were shaped long ago, and who bear sacred duties to help maintain the afterlife's ecosystem. Not every soul is filtered into the main four Covenants.[4] Each soul brings with it a vital force known as anima, the product of all of the soul's experiences and actions in life. Anima is the lifeblood of the Shadowlands, making trees grow and rivers flow and is the source that's drawn upon to conduct the magic of death. Great souls—both good and evil—have a lot of anima, while those who have lived humbler lives have less.[3][4] Four of the realms—Ardenweald, Bastion, Maldraxxus, and Revendreth—are especially vital to the functioning of the Shadowlands. However, there could be infinite afterlives, some small and tailored to a single person while others are vast and full of either splendor or torment. All interpretations of the afterlife held by mortal cultures are possible somewhere within the Shadowlands.[8][9][10][11] Because souls are constantly crossing over from the mortal plane, that means new afterlives manifest to meet the needs of the Shadowlands.[12]
Between each realm is a cloudy space known as the In-Between which was once rich with streams of anima connecting the different domains, but the current anima drought has caused the realms to become cut off from one another, breeding fear and mistrust among the inhabitants.[8]
Souls are not necessarily permanently stuck in their assigned afterlives. When the machinery of Death functioned the way it was supposed to, souls who had completed obligations in one realm sometimes had the opportunity to travel to some of the other realms of the Shadowlands. For example, romantic partners who are initially sent to different realms may eventually find an afterlife they can share together.[10][13]
The Shadowlands transcend all worlds and realities, as evidenced with Soulbinder Nyami[14] and the loa being able to use their power on alternate Draenor.[15][16] All alternate versions of the same mortal are more or less part of the same being, such as in the case with Draka, using an analogy of a rope with different threads which can be pulled off, but which "at some time come together to make that rope" and eventually come together as one being in the Shadowlands.[10]
When a soul is called from the afterlife, it is free to roam the material realm if it is not restrained within moments of its arrival.[17] Mortal souls that cross over and are brought back do not appear, however, to retain defined memories of what they experienced in the Shadowlands.[12] A spirit in the Shadowlands can, with enough power over other souls, tear a hole into the living world once they are strong enough. This is how Jin'do returned to Azeroth.[18]
Time is perceived differently in the Shadowlands. Time and Death are not related, as Death is about eternity and not linear time.[10] Time is a construct of order and structure, but circumstances in the Shadowlands are more chaotic. To a soul in the Shadowlands, it can therefore feel like eons have passed since their arrival whereas only a few months or years have elapsed in the world of the living, much like a dream in which a significant period of time can seem to pass even though one has only slept for a few hours.[19][20] The Alliance and Horde leaders who were imprisoned in the Maw by the Mawsworn felt as if they were trapped for weeks or longer, enough for them to make countless escape attempts and for Jaina Proudmoore to feel as if time had lost all meaning, whereas far less time elapsed in the mortal world.[21][22] Nevertheless, time of some kind seems to exist, as the Primus, before leaving his realm and disappearing, had an ally able to peer into the timeways to see every possible outcome for his military and its various tactics in order to determine the best possible ones.[23]
On Azeroth, Icecrown serves as an anchor to the Shadowlands.[24] During the Day of the Dead, the Shadowlands draw closer to Azeroth.[25]
The border between the Shadowlands and the living world is the Veil, which looks like the living world in greyscale.[26]
Other planes like Helheim and Thros are connected to the Shadowlands but not contained inside it.
History
The origins of the Shadowlands remain uncertain, but they have existed ever since mortal life first arose in the physical universe.[5]
Keeper Odyn used knowledge he gleaned from the Shadowlands to create the first Val'kyr, Helya, and tasked her with bringing the souls of worthy vrykul to the Halls of Valor.[27][28]
When Sylvanas Windrunner killed herself in Icecrown Citadel, she found herself in the darkness where she encountered nine Val'kyr that remained in service to the Scourge. While there, the partnership between Sylvanas and the Jailer started.[29]
Shadowlands in disarray
This section is a lore stub. |
The Shadowlands are in a state of disarray. In the natural order of things, souls are sorted and sent on to an afterlife realm appropriate to the lives they lived,[4] but since around the time of the Burning Legion's third invasion of Azeroth,[30] and some time after Ursoc's death in the Emerald Nightmare,[31] the Arbiter has gone mysteriously dormant,[32] and all souls who have perished—including the innocents slain at Teldrassil—are now being funneled directly into the Maw. The Shadowlands are starving for anima even as the Maw continues to grow from the glut of fresh souls. Sylvanas Windrunner has been seemingly perpetrating acts to bring about great amounts of death and destruction. In partnership with the Jailer, they have been working toward a common end for some time.[4]
Members of the Alliance and Horde will manage to enter the Shadowlands with the help of Bolvar Fordragon and his death knights, and will directly be sent into the Maw. Thanks to the connection some of the heroes of Azeroth have to their world-soul, a number of them will be able to leave the Maw and travel the realms of the dead, being the first to do this kind of feat, and become known as the Maw Walkers.
Geography
Although the world map for the Shadowlands (pictured right) depicts the realms of the Shadowlands on a flat plane, this is only a top-down view. In reality, the Shadowlands are an infinite three-dimensional space, and Revendreth is the zone that is lowest down and closest to the Maw. Similarly, while Maldraxxus appears to be adjacent to the Maw, it's not being directly affected by it in the same way that Revendreth is.[33]
Zones
- The Maw (50 - 60)
- Bastion (50 - 60, Storyline 50 - 52)
- Maldraxxus (50 - 60, Storyline 52 - 54)
- Ardenweald (50 - 60, Storyline 55 - 58)
- Revendreth (50 - 60, Storyline 57 - 60)
- Oribos (sanctuary)
- The In-Between (space between zones)
Other areas
Lore locations
- Unnamed native realm of the Brokers
- Craftenium, implied to be an engineering afterlife[34]
Dungeons
- Main article: Instances by continent
- The Necrotic Wake
- Plaguefall
- Mists of Tirna Scithe
- Halls of Atonement
- Spires of Ascension
- Theater of Pain
- De Other Side
- Sanguine Depths
- Torghast, Tower of the Damned
- Castle Nathria
Appearances
Legion
- Death knight champions have interactions with characters that have been to the Shadowlands:
- Dark Summoner Marogh came a long way to Acherus from deep within the realm of the Shadowlands.[35]
- Knights of the Ebon Blade were sent to the Shadowlands to acquire the Aggregates of Anguish, five tormented essences of powerful souls - Admiral Proudmoore, Soulbinder Nyami, Grand Empress Shek'zeer, Grand Apothecary Putress and Archmage Arugal. Salanaar required these to conjure the Steeds of the Damned for the order's new Horsemen.[36]
- A Dark Place, entered by a portal at the Emerald Dragonshrine, is an area where "the barrier between the realms of life and death are thin".[37] Adventurers travel here to save a young eredar ghost named Uuna from creatures called Soul-Eaters mysterious denizens of the dark place that cannot be harmed by mortals.[37]
Battle for Azeroth
- Talanji, Rokhan, and Master Gadrin conducted a ritual to delve into the Shadowlands and locate Vol'jin's missing spirit.[38]
Inhabitants
Beings of death are ancient and powerful, and it is dangerous to meddle in their realm. When Odyn peered into the Shadowlands, he saw some of its inhabitants: souls in torment, the husks of the dead, ghostly wraiths with no face, and others with no form, all made of death itself. This was enough to frighten even him.[39]
Many beings in the Shadowlands are souls of deceased mortals, some of which have been transformed to serve a new purpose, such as the kyrian of Bastion. Other creatures—such as dredgers and stewards—are endemic to the Shadowlands and are naturally born from the magic of Death to serve the different realms and help facilitate the process of the afterlife.[40][41] The various races of Ardenweald are born from the land itself, such as the Tirnenn coming to be same time as the dream trees came about and the faeries springing from the ground.
If a being of Death is killed on the mortal plane, their essence returns to the Shadowlands to be reformed, similar to how demons reform in the Twisting Nether.[10] However, if such a being—either the soul of a former mortal or a native being of the Shadowlands—is destroyed in the Shadowlands, they die permanently and their soul is lost forever. Their energy then disperses and joins the greater whole of the magic of Death.[33][42][43] If a "workforce" creature like a dredger or steward dies, another member of the same race will eventually manifest to take the place of the one that was killed.[40][41] Interestingly, Thanikos ordered to blast the corpses and sunder the souls of House of Rituals in order to prevent them from being raised by death magic to fight again.[44] A person that is still alive when they cross the veil into the Shadowlands, however, has a tether to their homeworld that might nudge them back to life when killed there.[12]
-
- Endemic creatures of death
- Transformed mortal souls
- Aranakk
- Drust
- Kyrian
- Maldraxxus undead
- Maldraxxus gladiator
- Maldraxxus necromancer
- Abomination
- Maldraxxus skeleton
- Lich
- Mad scientist
- Soul-rotted flesh
- Plague House remnant
- Shade
- Venthyr
-
- Others/Unknown
- The souls of the dead dwell in the Shadowlands.
- Attendant
- Broker
- Fungret
- Bloodlouse
- Soul-Eater and Skulking Horror
- Anima infused constructs
- Unique beings
- Pantheon of Death:
- The Arbiter - Judge of the Shadowlands in Oribos
- Kyrestia the Firstborne - Archon of the Kyrian in Bastion
- The Winter Queen - Queen of the Night Fae in Ardenweald
- Sire Denathrius - King of the Venthyr in Revendreth
- The Primus - Leader of the Necrolords, missing ruler of Maldraxxus
- Zovaal - Jailer of Torghast in the Maw, The Banished One
- Mueh'zala - God of Death, he is the one that Odyn made a pact with in exchange for his eye to peer into the Shadowlands.[39][45]
- Bwonsamdi - Loa of Death who watches over deceased trolls, once a priest elevated by Mueh'zala and current ruler of the Other Side
- The Runecarver - Mysterious prisoner of Torghast, creator of Frostmourne and the Helm of Domination.
- Prince Renathal, The Curator, and The Stonewright - Three venthyr made from Denathrius's will instead of mortal souls.
Other names
Other afterlives
In some situations, souls may be taken to other places besides the Shadowlands:
- Souls can be sent to the Light, such as Uuna's parents or Crusader Bridenbrad. Requirements for this are unknown.
- By extension souls can also, presumably, be sucked into the Void.
- Spirits can go to the Emerald Dream including green dragons, most Wild Gods, and some druids such as Elerethe Renferal and Thaon Moonclaw.
- Halls of Valor is where spirits of vrykul warriors who prove their valor can be taken to by Odyn's Val'kyr to become his Valarjar.
- Helheim is where vrykul souls that are stolen by Helya's kvaldir are brought to. Despite touching the Shadowlands, it is specifically not contained in it.[12]
- Elementals and demons respectively return to the Elemental Plane and Twisting Nether upon death, where they are then reborn. Dying in these planes kills them permanently. With elementals, however, it's known that their primal energies are recycled into the Elemental Plane they're from.
- Creations of the Old Gods that die in reality seem to return to Ny'alotha,[53][54] or at least they did before it was destroyed.
- Quetz'lun's underworld is a special underworld created by the loa at the time of her death as a home of her and her cursed worshipers that killed her.[55]
- In Warcraft: Orcs and Humans, Hades was where an orc's soul descended into for judgment when he died, and his essence was divided into good and evil.[56] This is likely flavor lore or has since been retconned.
Spirits and undead can be trapped from going to an afterlife.
- Frostmourne had thousands of souls contained within the blade.
In the RPG
Background
The final destination of the spirits of the deceased remains a mystery to the priests and philosophers of Azeroth. However, as spells such as [Resurrection] can reunite a dead body with its spirit, and a majority of living creatures from the tauren to the troll shadow hunters claim they can communicate with and call upon the power of the spirits, a widely held belief is that the spirits of the dead remain on the Material Plane — in an immaterial state that can only be altered or contacted through the use of magic.[57]
RPG notes
- Shadow hunters deal with the darkest aspects of the spirit world. Their connections to powerful voodoo spirits give them the ability to curse and heal at a whim.[58]
- The spell called "spiritual projection" or "astral projection" brings the caster to the Twisting Nether;[59] and the Twisting Nether is also referred as "realm of ghosts".[60]
Notes and trivia
- The first mention of the Shadowlands was in World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1.
- After World of Warcraft: Shadowlands, the Veil and the Shadowlands were confirmed to be different places.
- The [Headpiece of the Shadow Council] had a deep connection to the Shadowlands.
- [Dust from the Shadowlands] from the Legion expansion provides a significant increase to character experience.
- Death knights are able to learn the ability [Raise Ally] which pulls their ally's spirit back from the Realm of the Dead and forces it back into their body. Upon doing so, a "Void-Touched" debuff is applied to the player stating that: "A touch of the spirit realm still lingers..."
- The Shadowlands were originally intended to be a fully playable zone in World of Warcraft, designed for high-level play. The idea was that as deceased characters made their way back to their corpses, they'd see high-level players battling creeps in the area, which would inspire lower-level players to increase their character level so they could experience the zone for themselves.[62]
- In a number of quests spirits can be seen ascending to an afterlife:
- [Holy Water] is used to sanctify the corpses of Reanimated Crusaders so that their spirits may be freed to ascend, seen ascending as Released Souls.[63]
- Sent by Enohar Thunderbrew, Alliance adventurers defeated cursed Gilnean spirits in the Blasted Lands, releasing their spirits from the physical world and allowing them to pass into the next.[64]
- On Tol Barad Peninsula, the spirits of tortured souls are released at Forgotten Hill by paying respects to Forgotten soldier's Tombstones, after which Released Spirits are seen ascending.[65]
- Pei-Zhi creates a tan-chao, a bridge from the living world to the heavens, to draw spirits called by the mogu back into the Shadowlands.[66][67][68]
- [Resurrection] in lore is seemingly possible and can be performed with different sources of magic:
- By invoking the grandeur of the Light, mighty paladins can bring recently slain comrades back to life – enabling them to fight on for justice, freedom and the glory of Lordaeron.[69]
- Blood Knight paladins were able to use remnants of the naaru M'uru's power to resurrect Sangrias Stillblade, although it was noted that once he was dead "too long", not even the Light could bring him back to them.[70]
- The draenei paladin Kaylaan managed to resurrect Ishanah after Socrethar slew her.
- According to Librarian Lightmorne at the Sanctum of Light, paladins can use the Light's blessing to resurrect their allies.[71]
- The World-Shaman Thrall was able to apparently revive a Life Warden slain by Asira Dawnslayer when trying to reach Wyrmrest Temple during the Cataclysm,[72]
- The taunka shaman Roanauk Icemist brought back all his fallen warriors fighting Under-King Anub'et'kan.
- At the Netherlight Temple, Anduin remarked that priests are able to "sometimes" bring the dead back to life with the help of the Light,[73] which appears to be the most common method in the lore, but required the assistance of both Alonsus Faol and the naaru Saa'ra in order to successfully revive Calia as an undead infused with the Holy Light.
- In Exile's Reach, priests of both factions can resurrect Expedition recruits who recently died following their shipwreck, but they must hurry as long as their death is recent and their soul still present in the Veil.[74][75]
- It was noted by Tyrande Whisperwind that, "No priestess of Elune could bring her back now" when she observed a slain kaldorei woman who had been "dead several days".[76]
- Sally Whitemane possessed immense capabilities of resurrection, preventing her from dying and allowing her to resurrect her champions.
- Terenas Menethil II resurrected the champions fighting Arthas Menethil at the Frozen Throne.
- By invoking the grandeur of the Light, mighty paladins can bring recently slain comrades back to life – enabling them to fight on for justice, freedom and the glory of Lordaeron.[69]
- Cultural inspirations for each Shadowland seen thus far are wide and varied, see each page for more information.
- Some players have observed that the four governing zones of the Shadowlands can be taken to be the four stages of each day. Ardenweald is described as "moonless night", Revendreth's red sky box may be a reference to the ancient adages regarding red sky at morning thus dawn, Bastion almost always appears with daylight, and Maldraxxus would thus be dusk. Other comparisons have been attempted with the four humors.
Speculation
This article or section includes speculation, observations or opinions possibly supported by lore or by Blizzard officials. It should not be taken as representing official lore.
|
- The Edge of Reality in which Ner'zhul retreats to is ether in the Shadowlands,[77] in the Void[78] or in the Twisting Nether.[79]
- When Lich King Arthas died he spoke of "Seeing only darkness before him" while Sylvanas Windrunner said the same in Silverpine Forest after being risen from the dead by the Val'kyr. They could've in both cases have been sent to the Maw, as that appears to be the place Sylvanas was sent to when she killed herself in Icecrown Citadel.
- A Found Memento: Raising a King has Anduin Wrynn in a surprising vision see his father Varian Wrynn, it's unclear if this is a memory or perhaps a vision of Varian from some sort of afterlife in the Shadowlands.
- Some Kul Tirans speak of a boatman that calls them after death,[80] and Jaina Proudmoore saw and paid the obol to a hooded figure,[81] this boatman and Jaina's visions could be related to the Shadowlands.
- While the Shadowlands and Death for most of World of Warcraft's history have been associated with the most cryptic and mysterious of the cosmic powers, it has been hinted that some powers within its realms, such as the nathrezim and Sire Denathrius, have nevertheless been secretly responsible for many of the major events that have occurred in the universe of the living, including the Burning Crusade and the fracturing and eventual destruction of the Pantheon, as well as the eventual creation of the Scourge and the Lich King which helped pave the way for the Third War.[82] The Pantheon of Death and their realms also seem to be at least indirectly involved in the cosmic war, with servants of the Light and Void having assaulted Revendreth and Bastion respectively in the past, Draka being dispatched to a Legion world to spy on their activities, references to Pantheon members such as Eonar and Norgannon existing in the Covenants of Ardenweald and Revendreth, and the very purpose of the Primus and Maldraxxus being essentially to create an unstoppable and infinite army capable of holding its own against outside threats to the Shadowlands.[23]
Gallery
Cosmic map with the Shadowlands.
- WorldMap-ShadowlandsTaxi Detailed.jpg
Flight Map, when zoomed in.
- WorldMap-Shadowlands-alpha.jpg
Map of the Shadowlands in alpha with the size of the Maw zone shown.
- Player death
Spirit Obelisk at graveyards in the Shadowlands.
- BlizzCon 2019
- Concept art
References
- ^ The Art of World of Warcraft: Shadowlands, pg. 5
- ^ Blizzard Entertainment 2019-11-02. World of Warcraft at BlizzCon® 2019 News Round-Up. Retrieved on 2021-03-07.
- ^ a b c d Blizzard Entertainment 2019-11-26. BlizzCon 2019 | World of Warcraft: What's Next | Full Panel. YouTube.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Blizzard Entertainment 2019-11-01. World of Warcraft: What’s Next Panel Recap. Retrieved on 2019-11-02.
- ^ a b World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1, pg. 12
- ^ Blizzard Entertainment 2019-11-01. Shadowlands Preview: Bastion and the Kyrian Covenant. Retrieved on 2019-11-02.
- ^ [50] The Path to Bastion
- ^ a b MrGM 2019-11-02. Blizzcon Shadowlands Interview: Frank Kowalkowski & Steve Danuser - Titanforging/Tier Sets & More! (23:30 - 25:00). YouTube. Retrieved on 2019-11-02.
- ^ Heather Newman 2020-07-17. How Warcraft: Shadowlands’ Story Unfolds, And Why It’s Not All Guest Stars. Forbes. Archived from the original on 2020-07-18.
- ^ a b c d e Ezgi Pajecki 2020-09-26. Maldraxxus, Shadowlands and Beyond - Interview with Steve Danuser. Lorekeeper. Archived from the original on 2020-09-27.
- ^ Garth Holden 2020-07-09. Interview with World of Warcraft art director Ely Cannon. SA Gamer. Archived from the original on 2020-08-04.
- ^ a b c d Judgehype - Interview de Steve Danuser sur l'histoire de Shadowlands
- ^ perculia 2020-07-09. Shadowlands Lore Interview with Lead Narrative Designer Steve Danuser - Elune, Sylvanas, Calia. Wowhead. Archived from the original on 2020-07-09.
- ^ Unholy Attainment: Essence of Shadow
- ^ [35-40] The Blessing of Samedi
- ^ [35-40] I Help Ya Kill Dem
- ^ [Soul Coffer]
- ^ [35H] Break the Godbreaker
- ^ WoWChakra 2020-05-15. Entrevista a Ion Hazzikostas sobre Shadowlands | Shadowlands interview with Ion Hazzikostas [EN/ES] (08:35). YouTube. Retrieved on 2020-05-19.
- ^ Bellular 2020-07-13. …SCOURGE INVASION! Pre-Patch, Shadowland’s Anti Grind, LESS RNG, New Gearing + MORE | Ion Interview (06:15 - 08:40). YouTube. Retrieved on 2020-09-27.
- ^ [50] A Flight from Darkness
- ^ [50] A Moment's Respite
- ^ a b Garth Holden 2020-09-24. A deep dive into Maldraxxus, the defenders of Death. SA Gamer. Archived from the original on 2020-09-24.
- ^ [50] Jailor of the Damned
- ^ The Day of the Dead has Arrived: "Can you feel it? The spirit world draws close during the Day of the Dead."
- ^ [60] To Cross the Veil
- ^ The Legend of Odyn#First of the Val'kyr
- ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1, pg. 48
- ^ wowhead - BlizzCon 2019: A: We'll find out more of her motivations in Shadowlands and that her relationship with the Jailer dates back a bit. Edge of Night story involves this relationship. Working with Varian was a long term strategy in order to get war chief - had to make allies but now we're seeing the fruition of that.
- ^ Azeroth Radio 2019-11-03. John Hight & Johnny Cash SHADOWLANDS Interview! | BLIZZCON 2019! (06:57). YouTube. Retrieved on 2019-11-07.
- ^ Interview with Steve Danuser on the history of Shadowlands
- ^ Blizzard Entertainment 2020-05-21. Shadowlands Preview: Oribos. Archived from the original on 2020-05-21.
- ^ a b Wam 2020-09-24. Maldraxxus Deep Dive With Steve Danuser. GamerBraves. Archived from the original on 2020-09-25.
- ^ Archetus the Mad Designer
- ^ [10-45] Recruiting the Troops
- ^ [45] Aggregates of Anguish
- ^ a b Spirit Healer dialogue
- ^ [50] The Lost Spirit
- ^ a b The Legend of Odyn
- ^ a b Warcraft Radio 2019-11-03. John Hight & Johnny Cash SHADOWLANDS Interview! | BLIZZCON 2019! (10:15 - 12:40). YouTube. Retrieved on 2019-11-07.
- ^ a b The Lost Codex 2019-11-05. BlizzCon 2019 Interview: Steve Danuser & Frank Kowalkowski - Story and Systems | The Lost Codex (18:00 - 19:58). YouTube. Retrieved on 2019-11-07.
- ^ Cass Marshall 2020-09-24. World of Warcraft’s Maldraxxus is the grittiest zone in the Shadowlands. Polygon. Archived from the original on 2020-09-24.
- ^ Sybia 2020-09-24. WoW Shadowlands : Interview exclusive de Steve Danuser à propos de Maldraxxus (in French). Millenium. Archived from the original on 2020-09-24.
- ^ [51-60] Double Tap
- ^ Mueh'zala yells: It be Mueh'zala who brought Helya to da Jailer's side... struck a deal for ol' Odyn's eye... and made da Banshee warchief with a whisper!
- ^ Shadowlands official site
- ^ Fuel for the Voodoo#Completion
- ^ [10-60] The Will of the Loa
- ^ World of Warcraft: Shadowlands#Features
- ^ World of Warcraft: Shadowlands Features Overview
- ^ [60] Pauldrons of Imperium
- ^ Shadows Rising, pg. 179
- ^ Il'gynoth, Heart of Corruption whispers: N'Zoth... I journey... to Ny'alotha...
- ^ Il'gynoth, Corruption Reborn#Adventure Journal
- ^ Quetz'lun's Spirit
- ^ Warcraft: Orcs & Humans manual
- ^ Shadows & Light, pg. 132
- ^ Magic & Mayhem, pg. 45
- ^ Shadows & Light, pg. 131
- ^ Shadows & Light, pg. 152
- ^ Jeremy Feasel on Twitter
- ^ Game Informer #308: Reforging Real-time Strategy
- ^ [25-30] The Restless Dead
- ^ [15-30] Our Fallen Friends
- ^ [35 Daily] The Forgotten
- ^ [10-35] Ritual Artifacts
- ^ [10-35] To Bridge Earth and Sky
- ^ [10-35] Pei-Back
- ^ Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos manual, Human Hero Units, Paladin
- ^ [12] Redeeming the Dead
- ^ [45] Fate's Blessing
- ^ [35D] To Wyrmrest!
- ^ "Priests healed, but their patients were flesh. They mended wounds, cured illnesses and curses, and sometimes, if the Light willed, brought the dead back to life." Before the Storm
- ^ [1-10] A Priest's End
- ^ [1-10] Resurrecting the Recruits
- ^ Seeds of Faith
- ^ Ner'zhul (tactics)
- ^ [Voidtalon of the Dark Star]
- ^ [Void Totem]
- ^ Roughneck Logger#Quotes
- ^ Warbringers: Jaina
- ^ [Enemy Infiltration - Preface]
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