I had found this tomb long ago during closed beta, and even spent a while there trying to figure out what it was for.  Many of you may have noticed it too.  Today Drysc slipped what this monument is for.  If you watch the glowing symbols on the surface of the monument, they aren’t alien symbols at all.  You will see an “N”, “O”, “V” and “A” flashing from top to bottom.

Yes, it is a Starcraft: Ghost memorial easter egg.

Starcraft: Ghost was first unveiled on September 22, 2002 at the Tokyo Game Show.  The original release date was somewhere around Spring-Summer 2004. The project went from the hands of Nihilistic to Swingin’ Ape Studios, getting a delay of two years. Blizzard unexpectedly acquired Swingin’ Ape Studios at mid-development.  The release was then moved from March 2006 to Summer 2006.

On March 24, 2006 Blizzard Entertainment issued a Press Release announcing the postponement of Starcraft: Ghost.  Its main character was named Nova (November Annabelle Terra), a Ghost agent working for the Terran Dominion.

Ever since fans have considered Starcraft: Ghost as dead. Canned.  Cancelled.  However, this is not entirely true.  Recently, Rob Pardo commented to Gamasutra at the Hollywood and Games Summit his hope for the return of Starcraft: Ghost development on the Next-Gen Consoles. Apparently focus of work on Burning Crusade’s release date and the secret work on Starcraft II caused the mobilization of personnel to help on Burning Crusade.

The release of Microsoft XNA on March 14, 2006 might have made Blizzard consider to learn more about the XNA to resume work on Starcraft: Ghost as a next-gen console game. It wouldn’t make sense to release a game for PS2 and Xbox (Classic) when everyone was jumping the Xbox 360 and PS3 wagon.

With what Rob Pardo told Gamasutra, here is hope Nova will rise from the ashes like a Phoenix.

A World of Warcraft player asked at the official forums what was a strange blue shrine floating on a rock in Netherstorm.  This rock is south of the Arklon Ruins and west of Manaforge Coruu floating in the Twisting Nether.

Drysc, a Blizzard Community Manager, replied cryptically:

Drysc: Rest in peace Nova…

I close my eyes
Only for a moment, then the moment’s gone.
All my dreams
Pass before my eyes, a curiosity
Dust in the wind
All they are is dust in the wind…”

/tear

Curiously, he replied another fan after everyone was left pondering what the heck he meant with that.

Drysc: “Some say that under certain conditions you can see her ghost…

Pun not intended.”