Endangered Areas!

While politicians and warmongers bicker and squabble over scraps and inflated egos, the danger of a global catastrophe looms!  It is no longer a question of IF it will happen, according to the Druids of the Cenarian Circle and the Shamans of the Earthen Ring, but of when!  

But this begs another question; "Where?"

While the global Cataclysm is sure to shake all of Azeroth to its foundations, it is imperative to know which areas will most likely be the hardest hit, the most affected, in order that those of us who heed the words of the wise ones may survive!  Also, while the political landscape is shaped by history and bloodshed, the question of how the great nations of Durotar and Stormwind will handle the Aftermath is one of great concern.  

I've spoken to the wisest Shamans and Druids I could find.  The future may look grim, but with knowledge and foresight, we will stand a better chance of carving out future in the face of the Aftermath!

And so, here is a listing of the areas most likely to be affected by the coming Cataclysm, as well as its aftermath:


The Barrens:

   Evidence from Ulduar suggested that this arid and harsh landscape will be the epicenter of the Cataclysm within the continent of Kalimdor.  Our only hope lies in the ongoing efforts of the Cenarian Circle to bring new life to these lands.  Their efforts will be most important in the Aftermath!

Meanwhile, excavations by the intrusive dwarves of Bael Modan have revealed ancient structures.  Once thought to be remnants of the Gurubashi Empire, new evidence from the desert of Tanaris suggests they are even older!  What ancient secrets will be revealed?  Will we discover, as we did in Ulduar, some other sleeping, forgotten darkness?  We will soon find out!

The Thousand Needles:
 

  A marvel of sight and of structure, the magnificent canyons and mesas of this desert land was once thought to be part of an ancient sea or riverbed.  Indeed, the presence of the Shimmering Flats, the remnant of a primordial sea or lake, adds credit to this theory.  What is fact, however, is that this entire area is well below sea level!  The earthquakes predicted by the coming catastrophe may affect the land as such, and a return to its aquatic environment is very likely!




Tanaris:  

   
This vast and ancient desert is filled with mystery.  It is the home of the Bronze Dragonflight, and the Caverns of Time.  Inconceivably more ancient, however, is the Titan stronghold of Uldum.  This land has indeed witnessed untold eons and have yet remained intact.  It is of some comfort to know this, for it is likely that it will survive again.  But there is no doubt that, with the ancient powers that lay dormant under the sands, this area will definitely have a place of importance as future events unfold!


Azshara:

 

Named after the queen of the Highborne Night Elves who were responsible for the first Cataclysm over 10,000 years ago, this haunted land bears the scars of the Great Sundering.  Once the seat of power for all civilization on Azeroth, and the resting place of the Well of Eternity, it was also the site where the first war against the Burning Legion ended.  This War of the Ancients changed the face of the world forever, and the queen and all her followers were thought to be lost to the crushing depths of the great sea.  But the endlessly churning Maelstrom marks the location of the last great destruction that tore this world apart.  It is there, rumors say, that an ancient and terrible power will be awakened to bring domination to all life on Azeroth.  Indeed, the Naga have become very active here, and sightings of great monsters, servants of the Old God of the sea, have been confirmed!  As the ruins will attest, this land has seen a cataclysm before, and it will again!


Darkshore:

 Like every other coastal area, the tsunamis that are predicted to be generated by the global earthquakes will greatly affect this area.  But more than just the physical damage that is sure to be done, far greater and more sinister dangers exist in this shadowy land.  Still affected by the terrible events of the Third War, nearby Felwood drains its tainted waters and energies into the woodlands, warping its ancient protectors and angering its spirits.  What affect will this, along with the global catastrophe, have on the dormant powers that lay here?  At the Master's Glaive, one can see the nameless corpse of one of the five Old Gods, slain in the eons past by a Titan, the only one known to have been dispatched in such a way by this world's creators.  Even now, the Twilight Hammer labors to resurrect this nightmare creature.  So far their efforts have been in vain, and whether they even have a chance to succeed is doubtful.  But surely this site, and others like it, harbor some kind of residual energy that, with the return of the Destroyer, just may reawaken!  And that, comrades, would be catastrophic in and of itself!




Desolace:

 Massive skeletons and ancient ruins dot the landscape of this aptly named land of death.  It is the birthplace and homeland of the vile and marauding Centaur.  What makes this land significant in the events to come are the progenitors of this genocidal race; Zaetar, son of Cenarius, and the vile Princess Theradras, daughter of the elemental Lord of Earth and Stone!  The Maraudon was the home, and later, the prison of these dark beings.  Events that have unfolded since its discovery, however, indicate that, for once, this land may actually start to heal!  The Night Elves have been relentless in their attempts to cleanse this land, even now, centuries after Zaetar's corruption and failure.  The Horde, seeking to end the threat of the invasive and murderous Centaur, have found even older and more powerful threats here, and have decimated them all!  With the forces of darkness pushed to the brink by an unwittingly mutual effort by the forces of the Horde and Alliance, all that once corrupted this land will be culled or eliminated.  Indeed, as dead a place as this is now, the future will bring new life, and it will become an oasis in a tortured world!





Stranglethorn Vale:

Now we journey across the Great Sea, to the continent of the Eastern Kingdoms!  There, the jungles of Stranglethorn Vale are as beautiful as they are deadly.  Here, the last remnants of the bloodthirsty Gurubashi Empire can be seen.  It is the ancestral homeland of our own Darkspear allies.  While the vast evil powers that once permeated this area are now a faint shadow of its former potency, the fact remains that this place will be drastically affected by the coming crisis.  Much of the land is far below sea level, and the predicted tidal surges just may wipe this lush wilderness from existence!  If it does survive the coming elemental onslaught, one can only wonder what the end result will be!




The Plaguelands:  

 The lost lands of Lordaeron have remained tainted by undeath since Arthas and the Scourge first destroyed them during the Third War.  It has been a foothold for the Lich King ever since.  But, with the War in Northrend coming to a close, what will the future bring for these bleak woodlands?  Will the Forsaken push forward from the Bulwark to claim the territories for the Banshee Queen?  Or will the Scarlet Crusade hold their ground after so many shortcomings, and allow the Alliance to reclaim these once human lands?  Or will the one hero that both sides recognize and respect redeem the area in the name of the Argent Crusade?  What role with the Ashen Verdict even play in the coming events?  Only time will tell!




The Blasted Lands:

 There was a time when this scorched landscaped looked more like Dustwallow Marsh, a vast Morass of swamp, vegetation, and life.  It was here that Medivh, with the help of Ner'zhul, the Orc Warlock who would become the first Lich King, opened the Dark Portal, and thus began the cycle of hatred and torment between our people and those of the Alliance.  After the Third War, it was here that the greatest concentration of the Burning Legion's surviving forces remained to regroup and plan their revenge.  Cursed Immortals, fallen heroes, and demonic minions still litter the landscape!  Many of you remember the terrible day that Lord Kazak rampaged through the great cities of both factions to announce his return!  That war has long since passed, and while the portal remains active, guarded by a coalition of Horde and Alliance forces, what role will this land play in the coming events?  Will this become the site of yet another conflict between the factions?  Will the nether energies of Outland somehow become a commodity in the Aftermath?  If the Earthen Ring are to be believed, we will find out very soon!




So there you have it, comrades!  The coming Cataclysm will affect the entire world of Azeroth, but at least now you have a better idea of which areas will suffer the most!  Make your preparations, and pray to whatever Gods you recognize, for the time of reckoning is coming!  In the meantime, as you know these places will be drastically altered, perhaps you can use what little time you have left to visit them for yourself.  It may be the last chance you'll get!


Good luck out there, comrades!  By Blood and Honor we serve!!