For decades, the war between the Horde and the Alliance has raged on in the fantasy world of Azeroth. Millions of players have chosen a faction and fought alongside one another in Blizzard Entertainment’s critically acclaimed massively multiplayer online role-playing game, World of Warcraft® — and since its release in 2004, the game has grown to become the most popular subscription-based MMORPG on the planet.

Created in close collaboration with Blizzard, World of Warcraft®: The Ultimate Visual Guide explores the major characters, key locations, and epic history of this battle-scarred realm, and will capture any adventurer’s imagination with its breadth of detail. Players will find a treasure trove of game knowledge, as the book delves deep into the series’ lore and even goes be yond the game, giving readers a peek at the behind-the-scenes development of Blizzard’s vivid fantasy world. This detailed guide is the perfect companion for any adventurer, Alliance or Horde.

Vol’jin of the Darkspear

Ki’ta Arrowtusk: Welcome ta Sen’jin Village, mon. I know you traveled far ta see Vol’jin, leader a’ da Darkspear.

But I must ask ya ta wait a little longer. Let us speak.

Quest Objectives

Listen to Ki’ta Arrowtusk

Dialogue

Ki’ta Arrowtusk: Walk wit’ me, (class). Vol’jin be seein’ ya in just a moment. De “Warchief” still believes Vol’jin be dead, slain by his Kor’kron assassin in Kun-Lai Summit.

Vol’jin survived, but he still remember da sting a’ Hellscream’s betrayal. Darkspear never die.

When Vol’jin come back ta us, I saw he was changed. Da light a’ revolution be burnin’ in his eyes!

Now, look around you. De Darkspear rebellion begins. Hellscream’s worst nightmare.

De spark becomes a flame, de flame becomes a fire, de fire … an inferno. We gonna burn our way ta da gates a’ Orgrimmar.

But we gotta feed dis war machine. Stone, wood, oil, meat – we be needin’ ’em in large supply.

Dat’s where we need ya, (brodah / sistah).

Go, speak to Vol’jin. Prepare yourself. From here on out, we be askin’ more of you den ever before.

Vol’jin

Vol’jin: Look at us three. Back to da sands of old Durotar! It be just like old times.

Thrall: Not quite, old friend. Times have changed. The line between friend and foe is not so clear.

You: What happened to you in Pandaria?

(Vol’jin runs his three-fingered hand over his scar.)

Vol’jin: It been a long road, friend. Garrosh tried ta take me life wit’ a knife in de throat. Left me for dead. I crawl out dat cave, couldn’t even speak. It was Chen Stormstout who found me, nursed me back from de brink.

We travelled to de Shado-Pan monastery, an’ dey help me do some soul-searching. Figure out who I was. Who the Horde was. Me father …

I made up me mind. I’m takin’ de Horde back. No matter de cost.

Darkspear never die.

You: Does Garrosh know you’re alive?

(Vol’jin allows a grim smile to creep across his scowling features.)

Vol’jin: Not yet he don’t. Maybe he hearin’ rumors. Maybe he thinkin’, dey ghost stories. Maybe ol’ Vol’jin comin’ back ta haunt him. Hah.

He find out soon enough. Too bad I’m not gonna be there ta see da look on his fat, beady-eyed face when he hears ol’ Vol’jin is back, an’ gonna make good on me promise. Ta end his sad little reign. Ta fire de arrow dat pierces his black heart.

You: Why are you fighting against our own Warchief?

Vol’jin: Ya still call him “Warchief,” (class)? Is he still YOUR Warchief? What of de spoils of his war? I don’t see you fat an’ happy like his Kor’kron. His Horde be an orc Horde. Do ya still feel welcome here, (race)? Are ya a part of his plan? Or are ya trash he gonna do away wit’ once he has his way? He promise glory, but bathes our Horde in blood, an’ steps on anyone who see it diff’rent.

Ya wanna know how I see de Horde? De Horde dat me an’ Thrall built?

You: How do you see the Horde?

Vol’jin: Horde be a family. When de whole world try ta put us down, de family come an’ pick us back up. We all each other got, see?

Hellscream, he don’t see family. Ain’t never had one. All he see is power, like he just come through the portal.

(Vol’jin stares off into the distance.)

We stand against him – together, here, now – or he stome us out. One. By. One. I got de scars ta prove it.

Who do ya trust, (name)? Where be your loyalty now? Hellscream? Or family?

Completion

(Vol’jin nods at you.)

Vol’jin: (Class). Looks like ya just chose a side. I hope ya ready ta fight.

The Warchief and the Darkness

I see now how the Alliance king leads his people. But what is the Horde warchief up to? Just below us, a swarm of goblins is burrowing into the sacred Vale on his orders. What does he hope to find there? We must find out!

Quest Objectives

Complete the “Dark Heart of Pandaria” scenario. You can queue from the Dungeon Finder or use Lorewalker Cho’s Dream Brew.

Progression

Lorewalkeer Cho: The High King, his champions, and the Dark Iron dwarves worked together to save Ironforge.

The other dwarven leaders were ashamed of their behavior, and vowed never again to allow fear or distrust to cloud their judgement.

And so it was a human king who helped to unite the dwarven clans so long divided.

Free to trust one another, all three dwarven leaders pledged their full strength to the Alliance cause.

Meanwhile, in the city of Orgrimmar, Warchief Garrosh Hellscream sent goblin dig teams all across the continent of Pandaria.

He promised gold and riches to any who could discover for him the hidden secrets of this land that fill Pandaria with such a dark and powerful energy.

To my surprise, his people have found something! Right here, in the sacred vale! What will happen now?

The story is still being written …

Scenario: Dark Heart of Pandaria

Grizzle Gearslip: Thank the laws of physics you’re here!

We found somethin’ down there, somethin’ HUGE, and all of a sudden the rocks started fightin’ back and everyone went crazy. Bad business!

Please, just make it all stop!

Urtharges the Destroyer (Minion of Y’shaarj): Minions, destroy these insects!

Note: When Urtharges the Destroyer dies, stage 3 kicks in. You must collect 50 artifacts. These are all spread throughout the excavation site around you. A column of light rests on each of them. These are visible from afar. The yellow column of light identify bonus artifacts that grant +10 artifact bonus.

Stage 4 kicks in once you collect all 50 artifacts. Don’t go crazy pulling mobs. You have to run toward the mine entrance at the bottom of the excavation site. The map will show you a red “X” marking the entrance of the mine.

Crafty the Ambitious: It’s all clear then? No time to waste … let’s blow this wall to pieces! That was some explosion! Let’s check it out.

It looks like some sort of gigantic chest … probably full of gold. And it’s all ours!

Note: Crafty the Ambitious opens the floating chest and is bathed by Y’Shaarj’s dark clouds. Crafty the Ambitious grows in size and his nameplate changes into “Echo of Y’Shaarj”.

Norushen: Containment failure. Active defense matrix enabled.

Echo of Y’Shaarj: My blood hungers.

Norushen: Power units activated.

Echo of Y’Shaarj: I only sleep.

Grizzle Gearslip: Just what in the name of all that is unholy was that thing?

Malkorok: Step aside goblin. This artifact is exactly what the warchief hoped to find here. I am taking it under Kor’kron protection.

Grizzle Gearslip: Oh don’t you worry none, I don’t think anyone wants to touch that thing again. I’ll collect our money and we are outta here.

Hey hey, what is this, huh? This is barely a fifth of the promised payment!

Malkorok: You are paid for all workers present, foreman. The warchief does not compensate the dead.

Grizzle Gearslip: Naw naw, see there’s a contract. Payment in full is req-

Malkorok: THIS. This is what has diluted the vitality of our precious Horde!

The warchief graciously permits the families of the dead to live in his city. To die in the service of the Horde should be a great honor, but you see it as another opportunity to line your filthy pockets!

Your kind DISGUSTS me. Small. Weak. Honorless as thieves. Be thankful the warchief still tolerates your presence at all.

Grizzle Gearslip: Yeah, we’ll see who’s got Garrosh’s back when it counts.

Malkorok: What was that, goblin?

Grizzle Gearslip: Oh yeah, hey no nothing your, uh, your hugeness. Uh, for the Horde, and all that … Bye!

Completion

Lorewalker Cho: Whaaaat? The remains of an Old god are buried beneath Pandaria? No wonder the land is so haunted!

The warchief’s pursuit of those dormant powers are fraying apart the very Horde he leads. His vision is narrow, but very, very dangerous. I must inform the Shado-Pan immediately.