Twisting Nether

The Twisting Nether in Outland in Burning Crusade.

The Twisting Nether as it appears in Warlords of Draenor.

You may be looking for  [Darkmoon Card: Twisting Nether] or Server:Twisting Nether. Note that the Netherstorm is not the same thing as the Twisting Nether.

"A chaotic fury surrounded the lone guardian, the madness of the realm of the Burning Legion. There seemed no ground, no sky, only an insane swirl of fiery colors and untamed energies. Had he not been so completely focused on his adversaries, the orc suspected that he surely would have been driven insane by now."

The Twisting Nether (also known as the endless void, the Nether, and nether world) is the astral plane between worlds, described as the line between the ebb of Light and the flow of Void. It is said that in the beginning there was Light and there was Void and a time long ago, the two collided in the abyss of the Great Dark, which the Twisting Nether overlaps with. The Twisting Nether is an ethereal dimension of chaotic magics that connected the myriad worlds of the universe. There are a thousand ways to perceive it. Every voyager sees the Nether differently, depending on circumstance, form, and state of mind. Illidan projecting his spirit into the Nether saw it as a black, airless void in which a billion stars twinkled, and behind and beneath him blazed the world from which he had come. A snake of energy leading out into infinity represented the flow of energy of the portals the Burning Legion use.

The Nether is separated from the physical universe but there are physical objects. It transcends all realities and is normally imperceptible to mortals. Those that enter the Nether rarely return. There was a vast Twisting Nether distance between the original Draenor and Azeroth. Time passes differently deep inside the Twisting Nether, and it is impossible to tell whether days, years, or centuries have passed. Turalyon and Alleria have fought in the Nether for a thousand years from their perspective, while on Azeroth is has been only a few decades.

Origin

Before life began and before even the universe existed, there was only the Light. The Light existed as a boundless sea of living energy, swelling across all of existence, unfettered by time and space. Yet as the ever-shifting sea expanded, pockets of cold nothingness appeared. From these spaces, the Void coalesced. The Void quickly grew and began to move against the Light, and before long, the mounting tension between the two forces ignited a series of explosions that ruptured the very fabric of creation, giving birth to the physical universe.

The energies released from the clashing of Light and Void raged across the nascent cosmos, forming countless primordial worlds. For long epochs, the ever-expanding Great Dark Beyond broiled in a maelstrom of fire and magic. Shards of Light were flung throughout reality, suffusing worlds with the spark of life.

The most unstable energies coalesced into the astral dimension known as the Twisting Nether. Light and Void collided and bled together at the edges of this realm, throwing it into turmoil. As a result of this clash between the two energies, the very first demons were born. Although the Twisting Nether existed outside the borders of the physical universe, its volatile energies would occasionally tear through the veil of the Great Dark, flooding into reality and warping creation.

Definitions

Twisting Nether concept art from the Art of World of Warcraft book.

From Warcraft Encyclopedia

The Twisting Nether is the astral plane between worlds. It is a chaotic and magical environment that overlaps with the Great Dark Beyond, yet is normally imperceptible to mortals.

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.

Based on this description, one might interpret the Twisting Nether as having a similar connection to the Great Dark Beyond as the Emerald Dream does to Azeroth. This idea of a magical representation of physical space meshes well with what is known of the creation of Outland. When Draenor was ripped apart by Ner'zhul's portals, the portion of the world which has become Outland was pulled into the Twisting Nether rather than remaining in the physical realm of the Great Dark Beyond due to the sheer power of the magics being unleashed.

World of Warcraft

Burning Crusade

Goblins are very practical for not letting you fall into the Nether.

An abandoned ship stranded on a rock in the Twisting Nether.

An in-game area called the "Twisting Nether" was added with World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade. It can be reached by flying beyond the edges of Outland and, in practice, serves a similar function as that of the Veiled Sea: a mere border to the in-game representation of the world. Also in common with the Veiled Sea, the Twisting Nether has its own general and local defense channels.

Even though the Twisting Nether does not seem to be part of Outland, players can explore it with a flying mount and remount if they choose to explore the floating masses on foot. There does not appear to be a fatigue warning as one gets exploring the Veiled Sea. If you fly to far out or too high, you simply get an audible sound indicating that you can't go any farther. For a Druid in flight form the bird makes a screeching noise. Note that there have been reports of random invisible dismount flags strewn about the Twisting Nether. According to these reports, the mount and player character will make a jerking motion when you approach these flags.

Sometimes, taking the boat to Valaar's Berth will make you join Twisting Nether chat channels for a split second just after the loading screen. This happens because Azuremyst Isle, like the nearby Bloodmyst Isle, is actually located on the Outland map despite appearing geographically in the Veiled Sea. Drinking  [Pure Energy], provided for quest at Toshley's Station, also causes the zone display to say "Twisting Nether".

Wrath of the Lich King

During the early stages of the war against the Lich King, the heroes of Azeroth such as Jaina Proudmoore, Broll, Maraad, Hamuul and some others teleported themselves into the Nether to and channelled their powers into Med'an, becoming a Guardian for a time.

When Malygos diverted the magical powers that coursed beneath Azeroth to the Nexus, the world's crust splintered, and the resulting unstable rifts tore the very fabric of the magical dimension of the Twisting Nether.

Cataclysm

This section concerns content related to Cataclysm.

Using the  [Phaseblood Potion] in Felwood shifts you into the Nether.

Warlords of Draenor

This section concerns content related to Warlords of Draenor.

Shadowmoon clan began harness the power of the Twisting Nether bringing its creatures into Pillars of Fate in Shadowmoon Valley.

Kalandrios on Draenor sends adventurers into the Twisting Nether. Void enemies drawn by Warsong shaman want to connect the Nether into Draenor through Oshu'gun. The invasion is stopped by defeating Invalidus. Adventurers of the Horde and Alliance also fight the Void creatures from the nether in the quest Assault on Pillars of Fate.

In the quest The Void-Gate, Impsy states that there are things happening on Draenor that are causing ripples in the Twisting Nether. Some of these disturbances have been felt by Impsy, who warns that "they don't bode well for any of us."

Archimonde sends adventurers to the Twisting Nether during his confrontation in Hellfire Citadel.

Influences

Demon

The Twisting Nether was home to an infinite number of malefic, demonic beings, who sought only to destroy life and devour the energies of the living universe. The Twisting Nether is the only place where demons can truly die. The specifics are yet unknown but this idea may not be canon and may be changed in the future.

Archimonde is a demon whose demon soul is anchored to the Nether.

Imp

Imps can Phase Shift into the Nether. The Fel Imp Impsy added a drop of his very own essence to ooze to create the  [Phaseblood Potion], which makes its user to shift into the nether.

The Kirin Tor

The Kirin Tor regularly combs the local reaches of the Twisting Nether for misplaced objects. They've found various treasures, but have recently found more and more garbage and refuse.

Warlock

The Twisting Nether is always within reach for a skilled Warlock.

Some of Gul'dan's disciples can summon minor demons. To do this, these lesser warlocks must use a soul shard. The foul crystal creates a connection to the Twisting Nether, pulling a demon through against its will.

Other names

The Twisting Nether goes by many names, to some it is the Great Dark and they see no boundaries between it and the Twisting Nether.

To others it is known as the Astral Plane, Nameless Void, the lower planes, the underworld, Hell, and Hades.

Residents

[Celestial Steed] Demons (e.g felhounds) Ethereals Nether dragons Voidwalkers Titans

This section contains information from the Warcraft RPG which is considered non-canon.

Belker Chaos beast Devourer Force dragon Prismatic dragon Genius Iocus Gibbering orb Hagunemnon Howler Invisible stalker Mephit Mimic Neh-thalggu Night hag Nightmare

[Nightshade] Phase spider Phasm Pseudonatural creature Ravid Shadow mastiff Succubus Vargouille Umbral blot Uvuudaum Will-o'-wisp Yeth hound Tothrezim Netherwyrm

Note: Many of these creatures are drawn from the Shadows & Light sourcebook.

Notes and trivia

• It is hinted (or at least thought / believed) that after death, the mortal souls go into the Twisting Nether.
• The druids of Azeroth believe that Rift of Aln in the Emerald Dream bleeds into the Twisting Nether.
• It was once referred to as the realm of spirits, some spirits are stuck between the Twisting Nether and the physical world, seeking release from their eternal suffering.
• Some warlocks believe that a part of everyone exists simultaneously in the mortal realm and the Twisting Nether.
• Most trans-location or teleportation spells are thought to send the user through the Twisting Nether. Examples include the shaman spell [Astral Recall], the warlock spell [Ritual of Summoning], and the mage collection of portal spells. It appears that where the Nether connects to a world it creates a double of the specific location it connects to (such as the Spirit Woods on Draenor) in a manner similar to the Emerald Dream, but more localize
• Dornaa the draenei Children's Week orphan makes a joke about the Twisting Nether, "Is the Twisting Nether shaped like a pretzel? And just what is a nether? The Orphan Matron said I shouldn't ask people about their nethers."
• The Twisting Nether, though it remains invisible and unknowable to most, is typically envisioned or theorized as a sort of dimensional net that links all the various worlds of the mortal plane. It is a realm of chaos, where colored, misty clouds and bright streamers mingle into a muted form that teases mortal minds. Innumerable worlds, including Outland, exist within the Twisting Nether, and many speculate that its protean energies are the stuff that creates existence. Magic currents are strong in the Nether, for it is demonic magic’s birthplace. Demons have their genesis in the Twisting Nether. They alone control its secrets and master its energies, using it as weapon, armor and cloak. They feel it through its madness, invading planes and whispering dark things to mortals on countless worlds.^{[citation needed]} 
• Other creatures, made of energy and lunacy, also stem from the Nether's winds. To travelers, the Twisting Nether can be a doorway to other worlds. It is a dangerous path, however; demons and other creatures threaten wanderers, and the plane itself causes the mind to recoil when asked to navigate its wonders. Chaos seethes in the Nether, and only the most powerful can exert control.
• Some quests require the player to die in order to visit this realm to solve requirements. Though the Nether may be considered an afterlife by some,^{[citation needed]}  it is only one of a few. Paladins generally are sent to the Holy Light upon death,^{[citation needed]}  whereas there is also evidence that druids spend the afterlife in the Emerald Dream,^{[citation needed]}  and it is also assumable that shamans would roam the world with the spirits of the elements.^{[citation needed]} 

In the RPG

This section contains information from the Warcraft RPG which is considered non-canon.

The Twisting Nether is a formless place of magic and illusion. It is indistinct and chaotic, with no size or shape. Coterminous with all other worlds, the Twisting Nether can be a gateway for those who know how to use it. For mortals, the Twisting Nether is notoriously difficult to access. Spells and portals can take one there, but few other options exist. Traveling to a location within the Twisting Nether, such as Outland, can then lead a hero into the formless plane itself. In the non-canon RPG books, it is also known as the Abyssal Plane and even possibly the Dark Below.

Geography

The worlds of the universe are orderly, bound by physical law, and comprehensible. The Twisting Nether is everything the worlds are not. It is a stream of pure chaos that surrounds the worlds and binds them together.

Chunks of worlds float among prismatic clouds, and colorful energy ribbons twist through the void. All is spectral and shadowy — blurring together in a muted, multicolored haze that brushes and teases the senses. Physical laws do not exist in this realm of ghosts, save those that a traveler creates for his or herself. Magic and illusion dance across the ever-changing vastness.

The Twisting Nether does not co-exist with these worlds in any physical sense. It is a completely different state of being, one that is fundamentally incompatible with the universe as most creatures know it. Someone cannot look from the Nether into a world and vice versa; it is much easier to move between the Nether and a world. A shadow walk spell will take one through the Nether as he moves from place to place, and one can reach the Twisting Nether and its inhabitants with just about any planar travel or communications spell. Entering the Twisting Nether brings one to a realm of pure, lunatic thought. Most of the Twisting Nether is protean, never appearing the same for more than a few seconds. Colors change, it grows dark and light from moment to moment, sparkles and strange sounds emit and then vanish. One moment someone is suspended in nothingness, the next he is standing at the bottom of a deep canyon of purple rocks. His next shift may be to a tiny rock suspended in a starry night, and he has no way of knowing whether the change will occur in seconds or days. The Nether is an intensely magical environment, and some speculate that it is the true source of all arcane magic.

The Twisting Nether has subjective directional gravity. The strength of gravity in the Twisting Nether is the same as on Azeroth, but each individual chooses the direction of gravity’s pull. Such a plane has no gravity for unattended objects and non-sentient creatures. The Twisting Nether can be very disorienting to the newcomer, and the plane appears weightless. Movement is controlled by the will, and one can travel in any direction simply by deciding to do so. Creatures in the Twisting Nether can move normally along a solid surface by imagining "down" near their feet. If suspended in midair, a person "flies" by merely choosing a "down" direction and "falling" that way in a straight line only. In order to stop, one has to slow one's movement by changing the designated "down" direction. Though limited to regular movement speeds, one can sprint as long as he wishes without growing tired. The Twisting Nether does not restrict him from simply appearing wherever he wants to within it (this normally "impossible" action is known as point-to-point movement). Merely existing within the Nether strains the mind of non-native creatures, though, and ignoring traditional physical laws is even more painful. Creatures native to the Twisting Nether, such as demons, can move point-to-point at will without any handicap.

The Twisting Nether is of infinite size, there are no known borders of to the Nether. Age, hunger, thirst, poison, and natural healing do not function in the Twisting Nether, though they resume functioning when the traveler leaves the plane. It is also strongly chaos-aligned. It also enhances magic. Magic is extremely powerful in the Nether. Any spell cast while in the Nether has its duration extended. Illusion spells cost no mana and last for extended periods.

The Twisting Nether is highly morphic and little shifts occur all the time in the Twisting Nether, and many changes are caused by the landscape adjusting itself to fit the thoughts of those within it. Worry about war, and the landscape may become a battlefield populated with undead soldiers. If one is lonely, his lost love may step out of a nearby cottage. The solidity, detail, and potential danger these images possess depend on how well a creature can control its thoughts. If a creature is in control of its thoughts, then images the creature's mind triggers are benign or easily ignored. If it doesn't control its thoughts, then the images that appear are realistic and frightening. Strong-minded individuals may consciously influence the Twisting Nether. The changes made may be subtle or drastic. One can create an image of a dog wandering around the area sniffing others and licking any hand that is presented or place oneself and those nearby at the top of a windswept mountain. A creature cannot create any knowledge that it does not already have. If someone creates a well-appointed library, for instance, the only information in the books is information he already knows. If more than one creature tries to manipulate the environment, the one with the strongest will controls the environment. This control persists until another stronger willed creature changes it. The forces of the Twisting Nether steadily erode any attempt at a static environment. If someone creates a cozy chalet with a roaring fire on the hearth, he should not be surprised if a few moments later the fire poker has morphed into a duck. A harmful environment created requires all those within the area to be willful to avoid being harmed by it.

Inspiration

The Twisting Nether resembles The Warp from the Warhammer 40,000 universe. The Warp is where the powers of Chaos and their servants reside; they are always trying to corrupt and invade the universe.

Another likely source of inspiration is the Astral Plane in the Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting of PlaneScape, which has a lot of things in common with the Nether, such as subjective gravity and amorphous, magical environments. The PlaneScape Astral Plane also works as a gateway between worlds.

References

nl:Twisting Nether