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Y'Shaarj
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Race Old God (Aberration)
Affiliation(s) Old Gods' forces, Kingdom of Mantid
Occupation God of the Klaxxi
Progenitor of the Sha
Location The Underhold, beneath Orgrimmar (Heart of Y'Shaarj)
Status Deceased
Relative(s) Mantid, Sha, other Old Gods

Y'Shaarj (pronounced Yah-Sha-Raj) was an Old God, one of several malefic beings that were defeated or sequestered by the Titans during Azeroth's primordial ages. He was said to be the only Old God to have been killed by the Titans. His heart was imprisoned in a vault beneath the Vale of Eternal Blossoms and later found and restored by Garrosh Hellscream, then transported to Orgrimmar's Underhold. The heart was used by Garrosh to increase his power during the final battle of the Siege of Orgrimmar. As Garrosh was defeated, the heart and its power dissipated, leaving nothing left of Y'Shaarj's corrupting influence.

He is the 'progenitor' of the seven Sha primes.

Background

Vault of Y'Shaarj

The Heart of Y'Shaarj in its Vault

Before the ordering of Azeroth

Located in what is now Pandaria, the mantid race worshipped his seven heads. The Titans slew Y'Shaarj, but with his dying breath he cursed Pandaria by infesting it with "shadows of his former self," the Sha.[1] Y'Shaarj was said to have "consumed hope and begat despair ... inhaled courage and breathed fear".

Excavation

At the command of Garrosh Hellscream, goblin engineers began excavations in the Vale of Eternal Blossoms to find a mysterious artifact, but found more than they bargained for. With the mining crew terrorized by an ancient power in the depths, adventurers were called in to retrieve whatever remained of the excavation. After clearing the mine full of the Blood of Y'Shaarj, adventurers blasted their way into an underground room. Inside the Vault of Y'Shaarj was found a chest, suspended from chains, which contained the Heart of Y'shaarj.[2]

Resurrection

Garrosh Hellscream later fully restored the Heart of Y'shaarj using the pools of Pandaria. Fortunately, the whole God was not resurrected.[3] The heart was taken to Orgrimmar, and placed in the Underhold, Garrosh's new seat of power.

After Garrosh's defeat, the Heart has suffered a failure and the Fading Breath briefly remained on the floor of the Underhold, then faded from existence, ending the life, influence and corruption of Y'Shaarj. With every Sha Prime and his heart dead, nothing remains of his power.

The Klaxxi

Upon reaching exalted with the Klaxxi, a faction of mantid that have turned against their queen, Kil'ruk the Wind-Reaver will tell them the story of the mantid's origins and Y'Shaarj.

Wakener, your deeds have earned you the trust of the Klaxxi.
You are to be rewarded. Walk with me.
We mantid are an elder race. The pandaren you associate with - they are but children. They have their role to play.
Each cycle, our young swarm their walls. The pandaren slay the weak. The strong return.
With each generation, we grow ever stronger.
Before your history began, our empire was vast. We shared this world with our sister kingdoms, Ahn'Qiraj and Azjol-Nerub.
Our Gods were many, and powerful. We mantid worshipped the seven heads of Y'shaarj[sic].
Great was the Old One, and terrible was His wrath. He consumed hope and begat despair; He inhaled courage and breathed fear.
When the usurpers came - the ones you call "Titans" - Y'shaarj was destroyed.
His last terrible breath has haunted this land ever since, but the shadows he left behind are mere whispers of his former glory.
I tell you now, because you have earned this warning.
Your gods are not our gods, outsider.
If the Old Ones ever return, we mantid will once again stand by their side.
The wisest among you will do the same.

This story foreshadows the events that will take place during the Siege of Orgrimmar, as Paragons of the Klaxxi will ultimately side with Garrosh Hellscream, who managed to uncover the Heart of Y'Shaarj and even wield its power to some extent.

The Whispers of Y'Shaarj

See also: Old Gods#Whispers

During the fight against Garrosh Hellscream in Siege of Orgrimmar, players can periodically hear the whisperings of Y'Shaarj, coming from his reanimated heart:

  • You can never leave this place. There is no way home.
  • You will die when you leave this place. There is nothing left of your world.
  • You have already lost.
  • All of your friends are dead.
  • No one is coming to save you.
  • Your allies will leave you behind.
  • You cannot succeed. Your cause is hopeless.
  • Your allies think you are weak.
  • You do not have the strength to defeat him, you are too weak to carry on.

You hear whispers come out of Inv axe 2h orgrimmarraid d 01 [Xal'atoh, Desecrated Image of Gorehowl]:

  • With each threat unraveled, a step closer to my realm.
  • Another blemish on your soul.
  • You will rest in Ny'alotha.
  • You should kill them all. You must kill them all.
  • Eyes are the windows to the soul. Shatter them forever.
  • Pluck their wings. Leave them broken.
  • Pay the cost of greatness.
  • All should bow before you. Make them!
  • All that you have accomplished, all that you have won, yet still you lick the boots of kings.
  • Carve more slowly, that I may feed.
  • Embrace your rage.
  • Caress your fear.
  • Gorge your hatred.
  • Voice your doubts.
  • When you walk among the black forest, you will see.
  • I can taste the essence of your soul... it is sweet...

Notes

Trivia

Y'Shaarj is voiced by Frank Welker.

Scroll

Y'Shaarj and his defeat are described in the mogu lore object Shadow, Storm, and Stone.

Puzzle Box of Yogg-Saron

Cataclysm introduced a new item, the Trade archaeology cthunspuzzlebox [Puzzle Box of Yogg-Saron], which whispers to the player on each attempt to open it. While most of these (extremely vague and cryptic) whispers are thought to describe N'Zoth, one describes a "black goat with seven eyes" which may refer to Y'Shaarj due to the similar theme of seven eyes/heads.

  • Have you had the dream again? A black goat with seven eyes that watches from the outside.

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.

His seven heads may also explain why the hydras such as Aku'mai, also multi-headed creatures, are associated with the Old Gods.

Gallery

Inspiration

Based off the "black goat with seven eyes" quote of the puzzle-box it is possible Y'Shaarj is a reference to H.P. Lovecraft's Shub-Niggurath, who was known as "The Black Goat of the Woods with a Thousand Young". However it is not completely certain if the goat is in fact Y'Shaarj.

References

ru:И'Шарадж

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