This week's Blog Azeroth Shared Topic, suggested by Sly of Raging Monkeys, is secrets in World of Warcraft. Instead of limiting myself to one post, and with the massive world changes coming soon in Cataclysm, I've decided to do a series of posts on the hidden references and secret enclaves hidden around "old world" Azeroth.
From the humorous statements that units would say in the Warcraft and Starcraft RTSs after being clicked on multiple times, to the exploding sheep of Warcraft 3, Blizzard has always been a company known for their
easter eggs. So, why would WoW be any different?
We begin this journey through the World of Warcraft, searching for the secret locations and "inaccessible" set pieces of the Eastern Kingdoms.
Ironforge Airport and Mount Ironforge
Created with flickr slideshow from softsea.
While hardly a secret to any Alliance player flying south past Ironforge, the IF airport and the peak of Mount Ironforge have always been seemingly inaccessible to most players. The question is why?
Tutorials have existed since the game's beginning, but it still remains one of those enigmas most players never get to experience. Something I find rather sad. While there isn't much to either areas, and subsequent expansions have taken people away from these areas and focused their explorations on Outland and Northrend, these and the rest of the places in this article are some of the most memorable parts of Azeroth. Even now, with the gnomish airport in Boren Tundra and the peaks of Icecrown and Storm Peaks to traverse, these old set pieces still feel unique.
Dwarves of the Wetlands
Created with flickr slideshow from softsea.
Another piece of flightpath scenery, this small Dwarven village nestled in the hills above the Wetlands is home to a few Dwarven farmers, their live stock and a few hovels. It is however home to two famous set pieces of the old world. The first is a normal Dwarven street sign, but instead of pointing the way to important map points, each arrow either says, "This way," "That way," or "The other way." Next is the well known tunnel to nowhere. It appears to be a tunnel similar to those used to link Loch Modan to the Wetlands, through Dun Algaz. But, the tunnel leads to an empty void, one that if entered requires a player to use the "Unstuck" tool or petition a GM.
Ortell's Secret Hideout
Created with flickr slideshow from softsea.
Next we have Hermit Ortell's summer home in the mountains of Dun Morogh. Anyone who quested through Silithus remembers
Hermit Ortell, a former Twilight Cultist who was very willing to decode their texts, which lead to some nice blue recipes. Strangely enough, set in the mountains between Dun Morogh and Loch Modan is another version of
Ortell's Hideout. This version of the hermit's cave is empty save for a banner and some boxes. The strange thing is, when inside the cave, a player is registered as in Silithus and is placed into Silithus general chat. Weird.
Dwarven Farmers of Arathi
Created with flickr slideshow from softsea.
Unlike the Ironforge airport or the Wetlands farm, this next area is a mystery to me. On the far eastern coast of the Arathi Highlands, sits a small Dwarven farm. It is only accessible by jumping from the Thandol Span and swimming east towards the ocean. Unlike the airport or other farms, this area just seems to people an easter egg for anyone who decided to swim around the coast. There isn't much to the farm, just some grain fields, a dwarven farmhouse and stable, two Dwarven farmers (one patrolling a small path to a dock, and another asleep on the bed in the farmhouse), as well as some rats and two cats. Work of a bored level designer? Simply easter egg for explorers to find? The world my never know.
To some this may seem like quite a few secrets, but this barely scratches the surface. WoW is a treasure trove of secret places and pop culture references. I'm just getting started, so check back soon for part 2.
