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WoW Chronicle Magic

The cosmic forces, some of the main realms and the denizens of the universe from the perspective of the titans.

Grimoire of the Shadowlands - Cosmology

The cosmic forces, from the perspective of the brokers.

Planes, also known as dimensions,[1] realms of existence[2] or simply realms, are cosmic regions within the Warcraft universe, created by the First Ones.[3] Besides reality and its physical realm, six cosmic forces form the universe. All these forces push and pull against one another in an unending tug of war, constantly vying for power over each other. If one fell, all worlds would fall into chaos.[4][5] Existence within these planes is not a simple thing: it consists of layers upon layers of realities that can be traversed through magical means.[6]

The multiverse is a term used to refer to all the possible universes in World of Warcraft.[7][8]

Great Dark Beyond[]

Main article: Great Dark Beyond

The Great Dark Beyond represents the mortal and the physical universe. It is an infinite living realm composed of innumerable stars, worlds, moons, and mortal civilizations. Azeroth is found in it, and it is merely one of the countless worlds drifting through vast reaches of the Great Dark.[2][9]

The physical world is referred to as the material world or corporeal realm[10] and is in contrast with the realm of spirits.[11][12][13][14]

Twisting Nether[]

Main article: Twisting Nether

The Twisting Nether is the astral plane between worlds that lies in parallel with the Great Dark Beyond. The forces of Light and Void bleed together at its boundaries, engulfing the Twisting Nether in perpetual strife. Sometimes, the volatile energies that pervade the Nether intrude upon the physical universe, warping reality beyond measure.[2]

Emerald Dream[]

Main article: Emerald Dream

The Emerald Dream is an ethereal realm of spirits and untamed nature that exists alongside Azeroth. The titanic keepers forged it to act as a map for the evolutionary path of Azeroth's flora and fauna. As life ebbs and flows across the physical world, the spiritual energies that stature the Dream keep pace with it.[2]

Shadowlands[]

Main article: Shadowlands

The Shadowlands are nightmarish realms of decay, labyrinthine spiritual planes teeming with the souls of the dead who have passed from the world of the living. They have existed ever since mortal life arose in the physical universe.[2] Its main realms are Ardenweald, Bastion, Maldraxxus, Revendreth, and the Maw.

The Veil is the border between the Shadowlands and the living world, and the In-Between separates and surrounds the realms of the Shadowlands. The Rift is an alternate phase of the existence of the Maw.

Light and Void[]

Main articles: Light, Void

Pure Light and Shadow dwell in a realm outside the borders of reality, but shades of their presence are found in the physical universe as well as engulf the Twisting Nether in perpetual chaos. Light and Shadow are the most fundamental cosmic forces in existence predating the physical universe. Although contradictory in nature, they are bound together on a cosmic scale as one cannot exist without the other.[15] The Void realm is visited in alternate Draenor and on Argus.

Pocket dimensions[]

Pocket dimensions[16][17] (or dimensional pockets)[18] seem to be little parts of a dimension secluded by magic.

Elemental Plane[]

Main article: Elemental Plane

The Elemental Plane is the home of all elementals that were removed from Azeroth when the titan-forged Ra and Helya created four interlinked domains within a pocket dimension, imprisoning them millennia ago.[19]

Wyrmrest sanctums[]

Main article: Chamber of Aspects

Each sanctum is a refuge out of time and space that are magical dimensions unto themselves. The sanctums' appearances are reflective of each dragonflight.[20]

Halls of Valor and Helheim[]

Main articles: Halls of Valor, Helheim

Helya called upon the same powers she had used to secure the Elemental Plane and sealed off Odyn's fortress—the Halls of Valor—with an impregnable, magical barrier. She then proceeded to create Helheim as an enchanted refuge for herself and the other Val'kyr far below the Halls.[21]

De Other Side[]

Main article: Other Side

De Other Side is Bwonsamdi's pocket dimension in the Shadowlands.

Other pocket dimensions[]

Other realms[]

These realms exist but there is not much known about them:

In the RPG[]

Icon-RPG This section contains information from the Warcraft RPG which is considered non-canon.
Main article: Plane (RPG)

Notes[]

  • There have been references to the "Heavens" and "Hell". These are likely flavor lore.
  • Murmur came from a dimension of the cosmos unfathomable to mortal minds.
  • The Reliquary owns a "Grand Vault", the location of which is a closely-guarded secret. Some believe it is not even on this plane of existence.[45]
  • When Garrosh Hellscream had Theramore Isle destroyed with a mana bomb, its arcane power caused anomalies of realities and dimensions ripped asunder. One could even glimpse other worlds.[46]
  • The void revenants are a race of parasitic void-beings that tear holes through the planes of reality, consuming and absorbing the energies and beings within.[47]
  • Warp Shades partially tear an enemy into another dimension.
  • Aluneth is a strange, fickle and powerful entity of pure arcane energy hailing from another realm of existence that was brought to the Nexus when blue dragons at some point while manipulating the fabric of reality tapped into this other realm and made contact with the strange arcane entity.[48]
  • Frostshard Infernals come from an unknown plane.
  • Consumers of souls in Brawler's Guilds are seen in an alternate dimension[49] by wearing special goggles.

Speculation[]

Questionmark-medium
This article or section includes speculation, observations or opinions possibly supported by lore or by Blizzard officials. It should not be taken as representing official lore.

Planes for all the cosmic forces?[]

While the cosmology chart in World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1 shows the Emerald Dream as a counterpart to the Shadowlands, the book also asserts that the Emerald Dream is mostly an artificial phenomenon unique to Azeroth, even though the quest chain to get the Ability druid flightform [Swift Flight Form] hinted at a cosmic scale. The Shadowlands has been asserted to be the cosmic realm of Death, with the Veil being more akin to the Emerald Dream, and as such there could be additional cosmic-scale realms for the other cosmic forces.

There are some hints to that possibility:

  • Inv misc clipboard01 [Expedition Report A37J - Part 1] written by a broker Al'firim states that there are six forces and that there are six realms.
  • Nathrezim were forged to be the ultimate infiltrators, they bore the influence of Death into the realms of Death's rivals as well as the worlds of the living.[51]
  • A Stubborn Animate in the Ossein Foundry mentions fighting "Emissaries of the Light, minions of the Void, meddlers from the Gardens of Life... all have fallen before me! Soon the very planes of reality will kneel to my greatness!"[52] The "Gardens of Life" could be a name for a realm of the cosmic force of Life.
  • Steve Danuser in interview statements indicate a possibility of planes for other cosmic forces:
    • Where do naaru go when they die?: “So that same rule that we established in Legion for a being of an influence goes back, if it’s killed in the mortal realm, or some other realm, it goes back to its home realm, it’s home plane if you will. That is true of demons and it’s true of other forces as well. So if Naaru are fighting in the mortal realm, for example, and a Naaru is struck down its essence would go back to the realm of Light and would be reconstituted there“.[53]
    • "Remember that while the history of Azeroth is one part of our storyline, the universe that Azeroth inhabits is much much much older and places like the Shadowlands, or other realms that are on that cosmology chart, date back to the very beginnings of this universe".[53]
    • There could be a titan homeworld or homeworlds as players have so far seen titan influence only on Azeroth expressions and on Elunaria.[54]
    • With the Void kind of like Shadowlands we have dipped our toes into pockets that are supposed to be Void or Void adjacent.[55]

These sentiments indicate that there is an Order plane separate from the Great Dark Beyond, and a Life plane separate from the Emerald Dream. Additionally, it seems that the Light and Void as "planes" may not be so straightforward as well.

See also[]

References[]

 
  1. ^ B [120] The Precious 13-Tooth Gogglegear
  2. ^ a b c d e World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1, pg. 12
  3. ^ World of Warcraft Devs Talk the New Raid and Mythic+ Score Coming to the Chains of Domination Expansion - "the First Ones, the progenitors who created the Shadowlands and other cosmic realms."
  4. ^ N [51-60] In Agthia's Memory
  5. ^ Judgehype - Interview de Steve Danuser sur l'histoire de Shadowlands
  6. ^ N [60] A Shady Place
  7. ^ Alex Afrasiabi on Warlords, Garrosh, and alternate Azeroth
  8. ^ Bashiok
  9. ^ The Warcraft Encyclopedia/The Warcraft Universe
  10. ^ The Desolate Host
  11. ^ N Enchanting [50] The Sixth Sense
  12. ^ N Enchanting [50] Exhumed
  13. ^ N [20-30] You Reap What You Sow
  14. ^ Ability creature cursed 01 [Quetz'lun's Ritual]
  15. ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1, pg. 11, 13, 18
  16. ^ H [5-30] Transdimensional Warfare: Chapter I
  17. ^ H [5-30] Breaking the Barrier
  18. ^ H [5-30] Transdimensional Warfare: Chapter III
  19. ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1, pg. 12, 32
  20. ^ Thrall: Twilight of the Aspects, pg. 17
  21. ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1, pg. 57 - 58
  22. ^ The Sundering, pg. 25
  23. ^ Battle for Mount Hyjal (instance)#Infinite dragonflight
  24. ^ N Death knight [10-45] The Call of Icecrown
  25. ^ H [5-30] Transdimensional Warfare: Chapter I
  26. ^ H [5-30] Breaking the Barrier
  27. ^ H [5-30] Transdimensional Warfare: Chapter III
  28. ^ Curse of the Worgen
  29. ^ Night of the Dragon
  30. ^ Thaumaturge Rafir#Quotes
  31. ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1, pg. 23
  32. ^ Tome of Blighted Implements
  33. ^ N [20-30] You Reap What You Sow
  34. ^ Quetz'lun's Spirit
  35. ^ World of Warcraft 2019-10-07. Watch the New Developer Content Update Preview (03:20). YouTube. Retrieved on 2019-10-07.
  36. ^ BlizzConline Developer Interview: Steve Danuser & Morgan Day | Chains of Domination & Shadowlands, The Lost Codex
  37. ^ https://www.wowhead.com/spell=300584/reality-portal
  38. ^ Warcraft: Orcs & Humans manual
  39. ^ Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness manual
  40. ^ JINX World of Warcraft Paladin Legendary Class Men's Gamer Tee Shirt
  41. ^ Warcraft: Orcs & Humans manual
  42. ^ Medivh (WC1 Human)
  43. ^ "Path of the Damned: Digging up the Dead", Warcraft III. Blizzard Entertainment.
  44. ^ "Legacy of the Damned: Sylvanas' Farewell", Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne. Blizzard Entertainment.
  45. ^ Aelnara gossip text
  46. ^ Jaina Proudmoore: Tides of War, pg. 225
  47. ^ Adventure Guide entry for Xhul'horac
  48. ^ Archive of the Tirisgarde#Aluneth, Greatstaff of Magna
  49. ^ B [120] The Precious 13-Tooth Gogglegear
  50. ^ Image of Wrathion
  51. ^ N [60] The Unseen Guests
  52. ^ N [60] Blade of Blades
  53. ^ a b https://sagamer.co.za/2020/10/01/steve-danuser-interview-about-world-of-warcraft-dying-in-the-shadowlands-and-opening-doors-for-the-future/
  54. ^ Steve Danuser with Taliesin & Evitel - 00:38:10
  55. ^ Steve Danuser with Taliesin & Evitel - 00:38:45
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