each new release comes with a nostalgia and a sense of time gone by...
THIS release is sort of the opposite. It's a return to a time before everything today and yet... also a new beginning.
Usually Julienne takes a slow walk (or RP walk as some people call it since the vast majority of players are actually pre-set and STAY on the run setting) through Stormwind the night before the new launch. A complete tour of the city and everything it holds while I remember. For me it's a place to cement in my mind the parts of the game that I loved most and a reminder that regardless how stressful or frustrating the next few days or months may be, I have loved this game since my first view of the Abbey or Goldshire and that the gates of Stormwind took my breath away and made my pulse race. It's a reminder that I used to get lost in the streets of the Capital that is now so familiar in all of her faces (it had a HUGE remake that brought my warrior a "new" warrior King when Varian returned.)
Dramatic, I know. I DID say I'm too RP for PvE and PvP and not even close to RP enough for the RP servers. LOL
Well... Julienne can't walk through the OLD spaces, so my Classic toons will have to do it for her.
Dimma the baby Shadow Priest walks through Undercity...
Lots of people get lost in Undercity and complain that it's too confusing to get around in. There are too many "dumb" things in the way of getting inside. Maybe it's just because I've seen old British castles and keeps, or because I've read SO much high fantasy and played so much Dungeons and Dragons... I'm stunned that Stormwind is so easy to get into from BOTH sides. It's a very poorly protected keep and is clearly experiencing an era of peace and prosperity on the home front.
Those twists and turns bottleneck invaders to a keep that is on the border with the wild world outside of the Human Kingdoms. The constantly narrowing or confusing turns are designed to be that way. From the front gate all the way to the Audience Chamber and beyond into the newer additions to the city everything is designed to make invasion too hard to accomplish. This little walk through will give you a clearer vision of what's happening as you enter and perhaps give you a road map.
For those of you planning to pilliage our city and murder our Queen, the front door is NOT the way to do it. There's a better way. It's clear on the map and is how I personally have done it a number of times in pursuit of my For the Alliance! achievement. It won't be easy. Trust me, that Banshee is a bitch with that bow, and she's not alone in that room.
The front gates of the Ruins of Lordaeron
From the courtyard you can glimpse the statuary that protects the main entrance.
Around the first section of wall there's a ruined bell to remind us all that Undercity replaces the magnificent old city of Lordaeron, one of the many Human Kingdoms under Stromgarde in the Arathi Highlands (that also included Stormwind as a member.)
The undead scourge with Prince Arthas Menethil at their head destroyed Lordaeron and surrounding areas and Undercity was built beneath the ruins of that former kingdom.
Until Sylvanas took it upon herself to start "replacing" her undead citizens by using plague wagons perfected in Northrend, all Undead were original Humans who survived the mind breaking and soul bending transition from being murdered and brought back to life by the Lich King's magic.
From the Audience Chamber there are 2 doors to journey deeper into the city.
A jack-o-lantern blocks your view of the throne in this room.
Here it is... just had to get around the Hallow's End decorations.
Around the corner and down to the next chamber. I believe this is a new home for the last King's casket.
This space probably held guards and possibly a steward to advise visitors where to find what they were looking for before Lordaeron was destroyed and had to be "rebuilt."
Here lies Lordaeron's Last King... Terenas Menethil II, father of Calia and Arthas Menethil
From behind the King laid in State you can see one of three entrances down into the Undercity. Big abominations guard the doors to protect the undead citizens and their banshee Queen.
The Upper Ring as you enter Undercity is teaming with vendors for your every need. A lovely inn to rest in if you're weary from your journey up from Deathknell or other local locations awaits visitors.
The bankers fill the center of the room, ready to store or retrieve your goods.
Down and to your right you may be able to glimpse Jer... he's our local cockroach trader and will happily part with one of his friends for a few silver if you promise to care for it properly.
The city is built in a standard reminiscent of most Human capital cities, it is just odd because it is underground and so built in rings rather than squares connected by boulevards the way that the Ruins of Stromgarde Keep still display and that Stormwind still is.
If you feel lost, ask a guard or open your complimentary map and see which way to go.
Auctioneers are located on rises just outside of the central public hub of the city.
Venturing just a little deeper will bring you to the artisans and crafting experts of the city where you can obtain apprenticeships and special crafted wares from the Masters. Behind me here is the tailor's shop where you can purchase tailoring goods, become an apprentice and even graduate to Master!
To have an Audience with our Queen you must enter the Royal Quarter which is housed under the Apothecarium. There is a sign post, and I find it easier to remember that her Royal Guards stand on either side of the grand entrance leading down to her chambers. There's 14 guards posted between the front door and her chamber! She's VERY well protected!
Lady Sylvanas Windrunner, Queen of Undercity
I know... silly... and still... while traversing the depths of Undercity is a little confusing, you have to remember... it's self contained because it's UNDERGROUND. You'll find what you're looking for.
Is it just me or does Sylvanas look a hell of a lot more like a Night Elf than she will with the next expansion when they introduce Blood Elves? LOL
No comments:
Post a Comment