- This article is about the shattered world known as Outland. For its history before its destruction, see Draenor. For the alternate universe's counterpart of Draenor/Outland, see Draenor (alternate universe).
 Outland | |
|---|---|
| Level: 58 - 80 Battle Pet Level: 17 - 21 | |
 Loading screen as of patch 4.0.3a | |
| Type | Shattered world |
| Capital(s) | Various |
| Races | Various |
| Ruler(s) |
Sha'tar Kurenai Ashtongue Mag'har |
| Location | Great Dark Beyond[3] |
“A world shattered?" His tone told her that he thought her words a gross understatement. "Terrible hardly begins to describe it. We thought the world was ending. The sky burned. The continents ripped apart. Lava flowed. Wild magic danced from mountain peak to mountain peak. Sometimes the tips of mountains rose into the air and floated away. Sometimes they crashed down and killed thousands.”
Outland (often mistakenly called "Outlands"[5] or "The Outland"[6]) is the shattered floating remnants of the destroyed world of Draenor, the homeworld of the orcs and refuge of the draenei. After the sundering of Draenor, Outland was thrown partially towards the Twisting Nether, and is now in a constant state of degradation.[7] It became the domain of the pitlord Magtheridon, who was eventually deposed and replaced by Illidan Stormrage until his death at the Black Temple.
It is the theater of the Burning Crusade expansion. From a gameplay point of view, Outland used to be accessed from Azeroth through the Dark Portal in the Blasted Lands, but is now accessible via mage portals in Orgrimmar and Stormwind City.[8]
History
Outland landscape and the Twisting Nether.
Outland during the invasion of the Alliance and Horde expeditions.
Outland was created when Draenor became the focus of an attack, via the Dark Portal, of an Alliance expedition aiming to end the orcish threat to Azeroth once and for all. In the midst of the ensuing battle the Elder Shaman Ner'zhul attempted to allow the remaining orcs on Draenor to escape to other worlds by opening other dimensional portals; however the presence of so many portals tore the planet apart, launching torn fragments of the former world towards the Nether, and the barely-habitable remnants were renamed Outland. Most life on Draenor was wiped out in the explosion, and the surviving continent was drastically reshaped; most of the remaining wildlife became sickly or corrupt.[9] A number of orcs, ogres and some of the few remaining draenei survived. After the explosion, a pit lord named Magtheridon rallied the surviving orcs and took control of Outland. Using the remaining Dimensional Gates, he drew demons from the Twisting Nether to aid him.
The night elf demon Illidan Stormrage and many of the naga and blood elves fled to Outland and succeeded in defeating Magtheridon and conquering the wasteland. After their defeat in Northrend at the hands of Prince Arthas, they returned and established permanent settlements there.
Most draenei that remained in Outland have become horribly mutated, and bear only a passing resemblance to their former selves.
Since then, both the forces of the Light and the Shadow have realized Outland's usefulness. It can serve as a launching pad for the invasions of the Burning Legion, or as the staging ground to the forces who fight against the Legion. In response, both the naaru and the Legion have sent their agents to secure the world for their own purposes.
Now, the Alliance and the Horde must battle the forces of the maddened Illidan and the murderous followers of the Legion to safeguard Azeroth from Kil'jaeden's Burning Crusade.
Plant life still flourishes in places such as Sylvanaar in Blade's Edge Mountains and the Cenarion Thicket in Terokkar Forest. The main base of the Cenarion Circle's expedition is from Cenarion Refuge in Zangarmarsh.
Years later, Xaraax imprisoned Greydon Thorne somewhere on Outland.[10]
Archmage Vargoth says that the current state of Outland is constantly degrading.[7]
Kor'vas Bloodthorn and an Order Hall leader clashed with the forces of Highlord Kruul at the Stair of Destiny.
The Burning Legion and the champions of Azeroth briefly clashed in the Arcatraz during the offensive on Argus.
When Varok Saurfang was talking with Thrall in his friend's new home in Nagrand, he spoke about how good the world looked. But that it felt wrong, as Outland was broken and falling apart. After Varok touched Nagrand's grain, it crumbled.[11]
Geography
Nagrand overseen by a Mag'har.
Before Draenor was torn apart by the portal rifts, it was a vast planet of continents and seas, much like Azeroth. When the world was destroyed it was tossed towards the Twisting Nether. It no longer had its sun, but its moon, the Pale Lady still hovered looking far larger than it ever did before. Other spheres now existed as well, including a rosy one, and a smaller light blue one.[12] This may be partially wrong as the sun was later described to be present.[13]
The damage to the world had sundered reality, gravity, space, and even time may not even function properly.[12]
Location
Chris Metzen stated that Outland was floating in the Twisting Nether[14] and the official overview stated that Outland was "floating upon the astral winds of the Twisting Nether" as well. This can also be seen in-game when flying near the edges of the continent or between each region. Netherstorm also heavily features the Nether and its energies.
In Illidan however, Illidan saw Outland as a tiny speck in the infinity of the Great Dark Beyond.[3]
Zones
Map of Outland.
Outland in Chronicle Volume 3
Outland currently consists of seven large zones that connect to each other but differ sharply in environment.
Hellfire Peninsula (58 - 80)- Zangarmarsh (60 - 80)
- Terokkar Forest (62 - 80)
- Nagrand (64 - 80)
- Blade's Edge Mountains (65 - 80)
- Netherstorm (67 - 80)
- Shadowmoon Valley (67 - 80)
Lore sub-regions
Maps
Dungeons
- Main article: Instances by continent
Battlegrounds
- Main article: Battleground
Arenas
- Main article: Arena
- Ring of Trials - Nagrand
- Arena Floor - Nagrand (Non-instanced)
- Circle of Blood Arena - Blade's Edge Mountains
- Circle of Blood - Blade's Edge Mountains (Non-instanced)
Notable leaders
| History | Rise of the Horde | Invasion of Draenor | Third War | War in Outland | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruler | Gul'dan | Ner'zhul | Magtheridon | Illidan Stormrage | A'dal | |
Inhabitants
-
Natives
- Sapient
- Sand Gnomes
- Ancients
- Colossus
- Arakkoa
- Draenor's giants
- Orcs
- Half-ogres
- Nether dragon
- Bogstroks
- Rock flayers
- Fungal giants
- Sporelings
- Creatures
-
Outsiders
Official site info
From Outland from the Burning Crusade section of the Official site: The scattered wastes of Outland are all that remain of Draenor, the once beautiful homeworld of the orcs. Following the Second War, the Alliance invaded Draenor by crossing through the Dark Portal. To their horror, they discovered that Ner'zhul - the dark warlord of Horde - had constructed a series of new gateways that could lead the beaten Horde to newer, unspoiled worlds. As the Alliance forces closed in around him, Ner'zhul opened his gateways as a means of escape. However, the gateways' clashing energies resulted in a catastrophic explosion that ultimately ripped the world of Draenor apart.
Nearly thirteen years later - towards the end of the Third War - the fallen night elf, Illidan, discovered that huge chunks of Draenor still existed - floating upon the astral winds of the Twisting Nether. After his defeat at the hands of the evil Prince Arthas, Illidan fled to the remnants of Draenor and dubbed them Outland. He quickly seized control of the chaotic region and sealed the last of Ner'zhul's cursed gateways.
Though he is the undisputed ruler of the ravaged land, Illidan lives in fear that he will be discovered by his powerful enemies - most notably Arthas, the new Lich King, and the remaining Lords of the Burning Legion. Currently, Outland is home to a number of scattered draenei tribes, primitive orcs and the powerful, arcane creatures of the Nether itself. Agents of the Burning Legion have also targeted the region as a vital strategic location in their unending Burning Crusade to scour all life from the universe.
Cataclysm
Elemental Rifts briefly appeared during Patch 4.0.1 and 4.0.3a during the Cataclysm World Event.
Questions have been raised about the continuity of the Burning Crusade storyline following the Cataclysm, and blue-poster Bornakk has addressed this issue:
You have to consider the changes with some form of leniency, while technically you could say that if the story progresses then we need to remove a bunch of the content from Outland and Northrend as those are over - but for numerous reasons, you can probably see why that would be a bad idea. This is the same type of thing that happens by just having a persistent world, just because one quest was completed where something was killed doesn't mean it vanishes from your sight forever. While a level 80 doesn't need to return to the locations of Outland and Northrend and can focus on the new stories - a new character hasn't helped defeat the villains in those areas so they still need to answer the call and fight them off (or in the terms people are tossing around, they need to level). [1]
Warlords of Draenor
The portal to the Blasted Lands in capital cities now leads directly to Hellfire Peninsula.
Legion
Following Patch 7.3.5, level scaling was implemented in Outland, with maximum zone level being 80.
In the RPG
Outland consists of one large, central land mass with smaller chunks and debris floating all around it. Black chains connect some of these islands; adventurers can walk across these chains (they must be careful to avoid an unpleasant tumble into the Twisting Nether), fly, or in some cases jump to other islands. Outland is mostly bare and lifeless, like Draenor before its demise. The orcs built huge, black fortresses across their world, and some of them still stand. Burning Legion encampments and wretched draenei communities are scattered across the isles.[15]
Although Outland lies within and is part of the Twisting Nether, in many sources its properties are different than the Nether itself. Outland is described as having normal gravity, normal time, and finite shape and size. Although it is still alterably morphic, and many of its rocks defy gravity.[16][17]
Druids have magically replanted some locations on the central landmass of Outland that were formerly desolate, describing the areas as "Green Havens".[15]
Notes and trivia
- Outland has been damaged in ways beyond what eyes can see. Even the passage of time feels different to members of the bronze dragonflight.[18]
- In order for Argus to appear above Azuremyst Isle, Bloodmyst Isle, and Quel'Thalas, Argus was placed on the Outland map, which allows players to see Argus (or the "star" that remained) from Shattrath City, Terokkar Forest, and Zangarmarsh.
- Outland is also a melee tileset in The Frozen Throne. It is mostly accurate to the Hellfire Peninsula area.
- Outland was originally planned to ship as part of vanilla World of Warcraft.[19]
- The initially planned setting for WoW's first expansion was not Outland, but rather the South Seas on Azeroth. However, due to server limitations, the developers were unable to add more zones to the existing Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor and instead decided to use Outland for the expansion, as it would be on a separate realm.[20]
- The background music in many areas of Outland, including Honor Hold in Hellfire Peninsula and Allerian Stronghold in Terokkar Forest, is Chopin's Nocturne in C-sharp Minor, Op. 27, No. 1 orchestrated, Official Website Forum
- Removed
- Interactive map secret on official site: If you click the following areas on the Official Website Interactive Map, the OUTLAND words begin to glow. A few moments later, the blood elf does a /dance move. Click the areas in this order: Shadowmoon Valley, Blade's Edge Mountains, Nagrand, Netherstorm, Zangarmarsh, Hellfire Peninsula, Terokkar Forest.
Gallery
- In-game maps
- WorldMap-Outland-old.jpg
The Burning Crusade release
- WorldMap-Outland.jpg
The Burning Crusade Flight Map
Patch 3.1.0 Flight Map
- WorldMap-OutlandDetailed.jpg
Patch 8.1.5 Flight Map
- WorldMap-OutlandDetailed2.jpg
Patch 8.1.5 Flight Map, when zoomed in
- WorldMap-CosmicMap-old.jpg
The original Cosmic map added during The Burning Crusade.
The current Cosmic map added in Warlords of Draenor.
- Other
Some kind of nebula-like object in the Twisting Nether.
Another nebula like object in the Twisting Nether. Perhaps the small bright blue sphere that appeared after Outland entered the Twisting Nether?[12]
Outland exists in the Twisting Nether, an ethereal dimension of undulating green "nether" which connects worlds.
One of the new spheres in the skies of Outland.
Likely the rosy sphere and the small bright blue sphere that appeared after Outland entered the Twisting Nether.[12]
One of the spheres of the Twisting Nether around Outland.
Concept art — Outland orc dwellings in Nagrand.
Outland from Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne.
Outland at the time of Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne.
An early map of Outland.[21]
Loading screen from patch 2.0.1.
Loading screen from patch 3.0.2.
- LoadScreenOutlandWide.jpg
Loading screen from patch 3.3.0.
Outland spinning.
![Another nebula like object in the Twisting Nether. Perhaps the small bright blue sphere that appeared after Outland entered the Twisting Nether?[12]](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/wowpedia/images/4/4d/Another_sun.png/revision/latest?cb=20080810134716)
![Likely the rosy sphere and the small bright blue sphere that appeared after Outland entered the Twisting Nether.[12]](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/wowpedia/images/f/fc/More_moons.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20230115015710)
![An early map of Outland.[21]](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/wowpedia/images/b/b2/WorldMap-Outland-Early.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20180628160532)
- Fan art
Fan-made composite map by Subthermal
Fanmade composite map of Outland (slightly incomplete)
References
- ^ Archive lore tweets from loreology: "While normally imperceptible to mortals, the Twisting Nether bleeds into the physical realm. That’s because Outland is truly devastated. Those seen in Outland are most likely other (far away) worlds that you see and not “local” celestial bodies."
- ^ The zone between the regions is labeled "Twisting Nether"
- ^ a b World of Warcraft: Illidan, chapter 9: He saw that Outland was but a tiny speck in the infinity of the Great Dark Beyond.
- ^ World of Warcraft: Illidan, chapter 10
- ^ Privateer Groy#Quotes
- ^ Magistrix Erona#Quotes
- ^ a b [40] The Staff of Archmage Vargoth
- ^ WarcraftDevs
- ^ Dave Kosak on Twitter
- ^ Traveler: The Spiral Path
- ^ Safe Haven
- ^ a b c d Rosenberg, Aaron; Christie Golden. Beyond the Dark Portal, 418. ISBN 978-1-4165-5086-0.
- ^ World of Warcraft: Illidan, chapter 4
- ^ BlizzCon 2005 - Lore Panel
- ^ a b Arthaus. Shadows & Light, 150. ISBN 9781588469731.
- ^ Arthaus. World of Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game, 24. ISBN 9781588467812.
- ^ Arthaus. Shadows & Light, 149. ISBN 9781588469731.
- ^ Zephyr § Quotes
- ^ Blizzard Museum - https://twitter.com/gopherstick/status/607598598440632320
- ^ MMO-Champion 2018-09-24. John Staats Interview - The World of Warcraft Diary (18:27). YouTube. Retrieved on 2018-09-24.
- ^ World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade - Map of Outland. Blizzard Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2008-05-12. Retrieved on 2018-06-28.
[40] External links
- "Dreenor" appears in Man of Two Worlds — An old book by Brian and Frank Herbert (of the "Dune" series of books). Maybe Draenor was inspired by this name.
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