Tomb of Sargeras

This article is about the Tomb and its story. For the raid, see Tomb of Sargeras (instance). For other uses, see Tomb of Sargeras (disambiguation).

"Temple of Elune" redirects here. For other similar temples, see temples of Elune and the Temple of Elune (Val'sharah).

Tomb of Sargeras concept art

The Tomb of Sargeras (formerly the Temple of Elune, also spelled as the temple of Elune, and simply referred to as the Tomb) is a great structure situated on the island of Thal'dranath in the Broken Isles. The Guardian Aegwynn imprisoned the corpse of the Avatar of Sargeras in the deepest parts of the Temple, miles beneath its surface, after she defeated it 800 years ago. After centuries of having been submerged under the sea, the influence of the dark power of the Avatar worked its influence upon the halls of the Tomb, twisting it with fel energy.

The Tomb was raised back to the surface by the warlock Gul'dan during the Second War, but he was torn apart by the demonic guardians within before he could claim the power contained inside the Tomb. Later still, during the Third War, the structure was visited by Illidan Stormrage in search of the Eye of Sargeras. Following the defeat of the Burning Legion on the alternate Draenor, the Tomb was reopened by alternate Gul'dan to allow the Legion entry into Azeroth once more.

The Tomb of Sargeras as seen in-game

History

A daemon released from the tomb by Gul'dan.

Located in Suramar, the Temple of Elune was the main temple dedicated to the worship of the goddess Elune before the War of the Ancients. The roofless center section of the temple was called the Chamber of the Moon. The circular stone path leading to the dais in the center of the room was a mosaic pattern outlining the yearly cycles of the moon. The Chamber was rectangular and filled with night-blooming flowers.

During the War, the Burning Legion attempted to open a secondary portal besides the one at the Well of Eternity in the Temple in order to attack the night elves on two fronts. The Highborne used the Pillars of Creation to close the portal and put several magical seals on the Temple.

The Great Sundering caused it and most of Suramar to be blasted under the sea. Millennia later, Aegwynn would battle and managed to defeat the Avatar of Sargeras. She then chose to imprison its corpse within the sunken Temple because of its Highborne seals which negate fel, earning it a new name. Aegwynn further warded the Tomb of Sargeras so no Azerothian race could enter it, and this is why the spirit of Sargeras that was possessing Medivh later summoned the Old Horde to Azeroth in the first place - orcs were unaffected.^{[citation needed]} 

Second War

This section concerns content related to Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness or its expansion Beyond the Dark Portal.

Gul'dan raises the Tomb of Sargeras.

Centuries after Aegwynn's battle, the tomb was raised during the Second War by Gul'dan as a new island. Gul'dan believed that the body of Sargeras contained the power to make him a god (it was, in fact, the promise of the Tomb of Sargeras that led Gul'dan to first open the Dark Portal). The warlock led his entire army, formed by the Stormreaver and Twilight's Hammer clans, to the islands, thus taking away about a third of the Horde's deployed forces. This action ultimately led to the Horde's defeat in Lordaeron. Gul'dan himself was later torn apart by the Tomb's demonic guardians, at the very threshold of the Eye chamber, and his armies destroyed by the enraged Black Tooth Grin clan. The Black Tooth Grin forces were led by Rend and Maim Blackhand, and had been sent by Orgrim Doomhammer, who had been forced to cancel the Horde's assault on Lordaeron in order to deal with Gul'dan's treachery.

The orcs killed during the battle were eventually raised by the vile magics of the demons, and kept reliving it in their undeath.

Eventually, Teron Gorefiend sent one of his lieutenants, Ragnok Bloodreaver, to accompany Tagar Spinebreaker, Fenris Wolfbrother and their warriors to the Tomb of Sargeras. Their mission was to locate and retrieve the Jeweled Scepter of Sargeras. Once inside the tomb, they were confronted by a demon, whom they promptly slew. The demon held the scepter, and it was recovered. It was then that Ragnok, the death knight, threatened the orcs with death if they did not help him retrieve the Eye of Sargeras. Fenris was adamant, however, and Ragnok was forced to reconsider his decision to venture into the Chamber of the Eye.

Third War

This section concerns content related to Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos or its expansion The Frozen Throne.

The Tomb of Sargeras in The Frozen Throne.

Many years later, the tomb was visited by Illidan Stormrage who was searching for the Eye of Sargeras to destroy Northrend on Kil'jaeden's orders. Maiev Shadowsong tried to stop him from claiming the Eye, but Illidan collapsed the chamber on top of her, setting off a chain reaction that started the collapsing of the entire building. However, Maiev managed to escape.

Some time later, the Kirin Tor would clear the naga, its remaining artifacts were given to the Watchers's custody and the structure was sealed up.

Legion

This section concerns content related to Legion.

The third invasion of the Burning Legion commences.

An alternate version of Gul'dan would later make his way to the Tomb and open the way for the Burning Legion to fully invade Azeroth once again, in an invasion that dwarfed even the War of the Ancients. The demons started tearing at the vault, hoping to reclaim their master's power.

The upper portion of the Tomb of Sargeras is known as the Cathedral of Eternal Night, which were once a place of worship to Elune. Since the Legion's invasion, fel minions have desecrated this holy place, twisting it into their own image. Now, this site hosts a battle that could turn the tide of the invasion. While the Armies of Legionfall engage the fel army directly, a small group of heroes infiltrates the upper reaches of the cathedral in a desperate hope to return the Aegis of Aggramar to its resting place. The Dreadlord Mephistroth commands the Legion forces within the Cathedral and he takes the attempt to infiltrate the Cathedral of Eternal Night as a deeply personal matter. For the warlocks had killed his favored general, Jagganoth, stringing up his corpse and heart in Dreadscar Rift as both a warning and source of power. Mephistroth is also seeking retribution for the adventurers' recent brutal attacks on the Broken Shore. The memories are fresh. And revenge is sweet. Ultimately Mephistroth and his agents would fail and the Aegis of Aggramar would be secured within the Cathedral in order help in stopping the Legion Invasion of Azeroth.

The Tomb of Sargeras is then attacked by the adventurers. The penultimate boss is the Avatar of Sargeras at the bottom of the tomb, while the final boss is Kil'jaeden aboard a Legion ship within the Twisting Nether.

Mobs

Legion leaders appearing before the Tomb.

Legion troops flanking the Horde.

Battle for the Broken Shore

• Wrathguard Dreadblades
• Felguard Invaders
• Grinning Shadowstalkers
• Felstalker Dreadhounds
• Mo'arg Spinebreakers
• Winged Nightmares
• Intermediary Legion leaders attacking the Alliance, including Carnivore, Lochaber, Doomlord Kazrok, Brogozog, Felwing, Soulchaser, Makaan the Malevolent, Lord Perdition, Smashspite the Hateful, Geth'xun, Pilik, Imp Mother Fecunda, Hakkar the Houndmaster, Vaultwarden Umbra, The Overseer, Lord Kra'vos, Blerg and Fel Lord Dakuur. On the ridge, other Legion leaders attacking the Horde, including Darkmagus Drazzok, Harbinger Drel'nathar, Gorgoloth, Fel Lord Kaz'ral, Mazgoroth, Arch Magus Zyrel, Dread Knight Zak'gal, Flamecaller Vezrah, Flameweaver Verathix, Arch Magus Velysra, Harbinger Faraleth and Darkmagus Falo'reth. These ones would later be regional leaders during the Legion Invasions. The Horde side was also attacked by three Legion ships summoned by Vizuul the Twisted.
• Superior Legion leaders attacking the Alliance, including but not limited to Gul'dan, Aargoss, Anetheron, Arkethrax, Azoran, Balnazzar, Brutallus, Dantalionax, Destromath, Grand Summoner Abraxeton, Grand Warlock Alythess, Lady Sacrolash, Gravax the Desecrator, Kathra'natir, Lady Keletress, Lady Ran'zara, Lord Jaraxxus, Mal'Ganis, Malgalor, Malinoth, Mephistroth, Oublion, Overseer Lykill, Sathrovarr the Corruptor, Talixae Flamewreath and Tichondrius.

In the RPG

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

The Tomb of Sargeras is certainly the most important location on the Broken Isles. The tomb, an ancient Kaldorei structure from before the Sundering, is constructed of tan stone. It has recently collapsed in some places, and it is unstable. Shifting stones and tunnel collapses are common. Red orc letters, Gul’dan’s legacy, mark the walls.

The tomb is a haunted and eerie place. Skeletal and ghostly orcs battle each other ad infinitum. A few Stormreaver warlocks, remnants from Gul’dan’s disastrous expedition, also occupy the deep places, as do demons. Demons are particularly prevalent in the Chamber of the Eye, which is the section of the tomb that held Sargeras’s body and, until recently, the last remnant of his withered form: the Eye of Sargeras. Heavy stone gates and round doors barricade the tunnels. Sometimes, stepping onto a platform (outlined in eerie white light) causes such a door to roll to the side. The Kaldorei seemed to liked columns as they are prevalent in the tomb; some remain whole, but many have collapsed or broken. The tomb also contains obelisks, fountains, seahorse statues, archways, coral, seashells, torches, braziers, crates, barrels, and fallen rocks. Algae slicks many surfaces. In some places, the ruin’s original floor is intact: tan stone or brick. In others, the floor is shattered or covered by dirt or seawater.

The Tomb of Sargeras is perhaps the most dangerous place in the Broken Isles and a destination for anyone who is up to killing some demons.

Notes and trivia

• The Tomb had at least 3 side entrances.
• In Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness, the tomb did not appear as a building on the map, and was portrayed in a cinematic as an actual subterranean, relatively primitive stone tomb.
• In Warcraft II: Beyond the Dark Portal, a Dalaran expedition was depicted as having reached the area. They had built internment camps for the Old Horde survivors there, and had sealed the entry of the Tomb with two elven runestones and numerous soldiers.
• When the location was revisited in Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne, it appeared as a ruined, seaweed-covered building at the heart of the ruins of Suramar.
• Gul'dan summons a lot of demon commanders during the battle for the Broken Shore, but originally Garnoth, Fist of the Legion was also supposed to appear among them.
• During Legion's reveal at Gamescom, 2015, it was stated that the Pillars of Creation were used 12 000 years ago by the Highborne to seal a wound in the earth, before building the Temple of Elune over it.
• The architecture of the chamber of the Avatar reflects the influence of the Pantheon: as mighty as Aegwynn was, a prison for the power of the dark titan was not to be solely of her own making.

Speculation

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.

• Even though Aegwynn warded the tomb so no Azerothian race could enter, night elves and naga later entered it without being stopped. It is possible that when the Tomb was raised by Gul'dan or re-entered by Illidan, they disabled the protection.

Gallery

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  The Tomb of Sargeras on the Azeroth map in Warcraft II.

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  The Tomb in Warcraft II

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  The Tomb in Warcraft III during the Invasion of Draenor.

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  The Tomb during the battle for the Broken Shore.

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  The Tomb's entrance before Patch 7.2.0, guarded by demons

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  Patch 7.2.0 key art

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  Matte painting for the Legion cinematic

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  Broken Isles loading screen

Fan art

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  Fanart by Dmitry Vernygor.

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  Temple of Elune's original form by hipnosworld.

Videos

• The Tomb of Sargeras
• World of Warcraft - Tomb of Sargeras Lore

Patch changes

• Patch 7.0.3 (2016-07-19): Added.
  

See also

• Felstorm
• The Tomb of Sargeras (WC2 Orc)
• The Tomb of Sargeras (WC2x Orc)