User:GoldenYak/New Icecrown

UNDER CONSTRUCTION related to Spider Kingdom Expansion Concept

Icecrown is a zone composed of mostly Icecrown Glacier and the immediate area around it. Icecrown is surrounded by mountains to the south. The ground is neither frozen earth nor covered with snow; it is solid ice. Hence, nothing grows here.

History
Once the seat of power for Arthas Menethil, the previous Lich King, Icecrown was a dark and imposing realm, virtually lifeless, populated by thousands upon thousands of the tormented undead. With the death of Arthas, a new Lich King has come to dominate, and his iron will holds the undead Scourge in dreamless slumber, keeping the rest of Azeroth safe.



The Ashen Verdict, an order composed of paladins from the Argent Crusade and death knights from the Knights of the Ebon Blade, have become the new inhabitants of Icecrown Citadel, watching over the newly crowned Lich King and ensuring that none disturb his unholy slumber, lest the dark power he now wields overtake him and unleash a new evil upon the world.

Cataclysm
The roof of the world itself was rent asunder by Deathwing's Cataclysm. The power struggle in Northrend will come to a head at the very doorstep of the Lich King.


 * The Scourge forces on the surface of Icecrown have been reduced to mindless undead. Most of the Scourge forces along the great gates have been replaced by Twilight's Hammer forces.
 * The blue dragonflight has secured Sindragosa's Fall from the Scourge remnants, but the twilight dragonflight has begun to attack. Twilight's Hammer forces are attempting to excavate more blue dragon remains to create wychwyrms.
 * Portions of Icecrown Glacier have collapsed, exposing the Spider Kingdom and releasing nerubians and Faceless Ones to the surface.
 * The Argent Coliseum has collapsed into the Icy Depths. Nerubians are swarming through the tournament grounds. The Ashen Verdict have reunited to battle them back. The coliseum dungeon and raid have been removed.
 * Aldur'thar, the Desolation Gate, was damaged in the Cataclysm. Twilight's Hammer and Scourge Remnant forces clash to secure what's left.
 * Death Queen Angerboda has taken over the vrykul holdings in Icecrown. Her forces and the Cult of the Damned are clashing with the Twilight's Hammer and other Scourge remnants in the area. Vidar Ymironson has arrived with his forces, and plans to take down Angerboda once and for all.
 * In Icecrown Citadel's courtyard, Twilight's Hammer forces are clashing with the Ashen Verdict.
 * The Twilight's Hammer have seized the quarry that once held Malykriss, the Saronite Necropolis. The fearsome structure's whereabouts are unknown.
 * The Icecrown Citadel raid has been removed.
 * The Forge of Souls, the Pit of Saron, and the Halls of Reflection have been revised to feature Twilight's Hammer and Scourge Remnant enemies. The Twilight's Hammer storyline will be resolved here, leading into the Spider Kingdom content.

Geography


Icecrown Glacier fills the valleys of this region, an impenetrable wall of black ice... impenetrable until the Cataclysm tore Azeroth apart. Great rents have appeared in the glacier, and earthquakes have caused portions of the Spider Kingdom to rise up from the depths, breaking through the ice and exposing the ancient ruins to the surface. Hordes of nerubians are swarming forth from the exposed ruins, blanketing Icecrown in spidery bodies.

Quests
The major story lines of the revised Northrend content will be resolved in the following Icecrown questchains:

Twilight Arcanist Zin'fanel


The blue dragonflight retrieved Sindragosa's remains from Icecrown Citadel in the wake of the Lich King's defeat. They returned her bones to where they had fallen, and with the help of the Kirin Tor have constructed a memorial-fortress to protect the area called Sindragosa's Rest. Madra has taken command after securing Coldarra, and together he and his allies watch over the fallen blue matriarch and her children. The Twilight's Hammer, led by Arcanist Zin'fanel and her brother, Thaumaturge Fin'zanel, have established a camp nearby and are plotting to bring down Sindragosa's Rest and secure the blue dragon remains, so they may resurrect them as wychwyrms under the Hammer's control. The blue dragons at Sindragosa's Rest will also task players with protecting the re-interred remains of slain frost wyrms from the influence of the Malevolence, which is growing in power in the region.

Players will ride blue dragons into battle against the Twilight's Hammer after Zin'fanel and Fin'zanel manage to create a powerful wychwyrm named Thundragos. Soon after his creation, Thundragos falls under the control of the Malevolence, destroying the Twilight camp and forcing Zin'fanel and Fin'zanel to retreat. Players must destroy Thundragos before he can attack Sindragosa's Rest and raise the rest of the fallen dragons there as more wychwyrms.

Dark Master Zorc
The Crusader's Coliseum was destroyed in the Cataclysm, and it's remains have fallen into the Icy Depths, a region located on the outskirts of Azjol-Nerub. Ashen Verdict forces in the region seek to retake the territory from the nerubians now infesting it. They will launch their assault on what is now Crusader's Ruin from the eastern graveyard. Before long, the nerubians begin to receive support from the Twilight's Hammer, who have occupied Deathspeaker's Watch to the west. Before the nerubians are able to rally, the Ashen Verdict must push through their weakened ranks at Crusader's Ruin and attack Deathspeaker's Watch, where Dark Master Zorc commands the Twilight's Hammer.

After defeating Zorc and forcing him to retreat, daily quests in the region will become available, supporting the Argent Crusade against the nerubians infesting the coliseum ruins, or supporting the Knights of the Ebon Blade in driving the Twilight's Hammer out of Deathspeaker's Watch for good.

Confrontation at Aldur'thar
A scene takes place at the ruins of Aldur'thar, the Desolation Gate. Both the Twilight's Hammer and Angerboda's forces are attempting to repair the bridge, each seeking to attack the other. Players can observe a scene between Death Queen Angerboda and Twilight Master Velius at the precipice of the shattered bridge. Velius informs Angerboda that the remaining Scourge Remnants, the combined faction led by Amal'thazad and Prince Theraldis, have sworn alliegence to the Hammer and have become Velius' subordinates. He invites Angerboda to become one as well, but she vows to crush the Hammer and slaughter Velius personally. Velius responds only with laughter and withdraws.

Twilight Lord Urizen
The Shadow Vault is still in the hands of the Ebon Blade, but has come under assault from Faceless Ones led by Twilight Lord Urizen. Though Urizen has become trapped between dimensions after his defeat in Zul'drak, he has managed to manifest himself as a disembodied specter in the physical world and draw many Faceless Ones to the surface. The Faceless are coming from the Weeping Quarry to the south, a region that has become infested by Undying Tendrils. Players will need to rely on the aid of the Ebon Blade's enforcers in the region to drive back the Faceless and seal their tunnels in the Quarry. Urizen will fade away once his minions are vanquished.



Battle at the Horror Gate
The Ashen Verdict occupied Icecrown Citadel and most of the surrounding regions after the fall of the Lich King. However, the potent mystical defenses of the Horror Gate have begun to fade without the Lich King and his loyalist liches to maintain their power. As the blue flames of the Horror Gate fade, the Hammer and their nerubian allies march upon Icecrown Citadel.

Phasing quests are present here, as the Ashen Verdict is steadily pushed back from the Horror Gate, the Cathedral of Darkness, and the Graving, until they rally at the Court of Bones and hold at the very gates of Icecrown Citadel itself. The surrounding regions are all captured by the nerubians and the Twilight's Hammer. Twilight Master Velius himself will finally appear in the flesh to lend his formidable power to the Hammer. Forgemaster Balehammer, Twilight Lord Xarosan, and Amal'thazad join him.

Forgemaster Balehammer
Forgemaster Balehammer has seized the Graving, the site of the former Lich King's greatest weapons foundry. Here the Scourge once labored to construct Malykriss, a necropolis constructed of pure saronite. The terrifying Malykriss construct no longer darkens the skies overhead, but the foundry is still operational - Balehammer is using it to produce Iron Dwarves and Iron Giants, using saronite extracted from sites all over Northrend. The Ashen Verdict will require aid in driving out Balehammer and his new forces. As the battle progresses, it becomes obvious that the Iron Dwarves Balehammer has created are flawed - they are much weaker than the ones that served Loken. Balehammer retreats with the saronite crystal he extracted from the corpse of Yogg-Saron before he can be slain.

While scouting the area's new foundries and iron dwarf forges, players will spy a conversation between Balehammer and a image of Velius, learning that Velius is searching for where Malykriss ended up after it was moved from the Graving.

At the Gates of the Citadel
The Ashen Verdict and the Twilight's Hammer are locked in combat all across the Court of Bones, with Velius having captured the Cathedral of Darkness as his stronghold, renaming it the Basilica of Twilight. Several of the Hammer's top lieutenants, including Xarosan, Zin'fanel, and Dark Master Zorc join him at the Basilica, along with Prince Theraldis and Amal'thazad from the Scourge remnants who now serve the Hammer. Players will have the opportunity to spy on the Hammer's leaders to gather intel, learning that Velius is seeking something hidden within Icecrown Citadel he calls 'the vessel'.

The end of the quest-chain in the region involves a final push by the Hammer to take Icecrown Citadel, with Darion Mograine himself leading the Ashen Verdict in their defense. Only with the aid of the players are the Ashen Verdict able to hold - barely. With the gates of the Citadel at their backs, it seems like the Hammer will smash all resistance. At the last second, the Kirin Tor and the blue dragonflight arrives, leading the Wyrmrest Accord and forces from four other dragonflights - red, bronze, green, and the netherwing flight.

Aftermath
Darion Mograine, Madragos, Tyrigosa, Jorad Mace, Chromie, and the nether dragon Jianaku, together with their forces from the Ashen Verdict, Kirin Tor, and the Wyrmrest Accord are able to end the Twilight's Hammer assault and hold the gates of the Citadel. The Hammer still holds most of the outer structures, and have moved many of their strongest forces into the Frozen Halls, but Icecrown Citadel and the Frozen Throne remain secure.

Players will end the Twilight's Hammer quest-chain with a flight via dragon to the top of Icecrown Citadel, to the Frozen Throne itself, where Bolvar Fordragon will complete the final quest and offer rewards. Phasing will place Ashen Verdict guards around the Frozen Throne, while the sky will be filled with dragons from all the Wyrmrest Accord flights. Velius and his Hammer leaders have moved from the Basilica of Twilight to the Frozen Halls, where they can be confronted in the three dungeons there.

Marching into Icecrown
The Argent Vanguard was overrun with Angerboda's Scourge Remnants, and players will join Vidar Ymironson and his forces just outside Icecrown before marching to retake it. Renaming the camp Queenskorne, Vidar leads his forces onwards to capture Scourgeholme. Players will aid Vidar in marching across Mord'rethar and ousting all of the Scourge Remnants that occupy it. Vidar secures the bridge as an avenue of attack against Angerboda's stronghold at Ymirheim, and will then dispatch the players deeper into Icecrown to meet him later. Players can use blue proto-dragons tamed by the hyldnir allied with Vidar to move around the region.

Jotunheim
Many of the vrykul at Jotunheim follow Angerboda, and Vidar will need help in rallying support to overthrow her. After wresting control of the region from Angerboda, quests will carry players towards the former site of Balargarde Fortress. The massive fortress has been torn down to expose the vrykul hibernation crypts located underground, where Angerboda is slaughtering the slumbering vrykul to raise them as her undead slaves.

The Fleshwerks
This region is contested by Angerboda's forces and the Twilight's Hammer. Vidar's vrykul will take advantage of the chaos to drive both enemies out, securing the region as another avenue of assault against Ymirheim by crossing Corp'rethar, the Horror Gate. With the upper bridges of Mord'rethar and Corp'rethar secure, Vidar can launch a two-pronged attack against Ymirheim and finally confront Angerboda directly.

Assault on Ymirheim
Vidar Ymironson finally leads the charge against Angerboda, moving his forces towards Ymirheim and assaulting the undead vrykul that are fortified there. Quest phasing will change the region as Vidar's forces advance. Finally, Vidar and the players will break through Angerboda's strongest minions, confronting the Death Queen directly. Vidar vows to end Angerboda's mad bid for power, showing that her forces have been almost defeated by his. As the quest-chain's climax, players will aid Vidar in battling the Death Queen. With defeat imminent, Angerboda strikes at the player, but Vidar intercepts the spell, becoming gravely injured. Angerboda seizes the chance and captures Vidar, teleporting with him to Utgarde Pinnacle. A boss encounter involving Angerboda and Vidar Ymironson will replace the battle with King Ymiron as Utgarde Pinnacle's final encounter.

Aftermath
In the aftermath of the battle, Ymirheim becomes a maelstrom of carnage, as Vidar's living clash constantly with Angerboda's forces. The skies are darkened by blue proto-dragons and undead proto-wyrms, while warriors both living and dead battle on the ground below. Neither side can gain an advantage with both of their leaders gone. Daily quests will be offered by Vidar's vrykul for aiding in their struggle in the region. Players can choose Faction Tokens as their reward to raise their reputation with various Northrend factions.

Other Quests in Icecrown
The Scarlet Onslaught forces at Onslaught Harbor, now called Westwind's Folly, have all become undead, restlessly patrolling their place of slaughter. These Scarlet Unrisen appear to have gone completely insane, and will attack anyone who approaches. The Ashen Verdict have a presence on the island itself, but are in dispute about what to do with the wretched Unrisen. The death knights of the Ebon Blade want to wipe them out, while the members of the Argent Crusade wish to find a way to help the Unrisen cope with their fates. Players will be able to choose a path to follow - aiding the Ebon Blade in exterminating the Unrisen, or aiding the Argent Crusade in their efforts to rehabilitate them. Different daily quests will become available depending on which path a player chooses. Players can choose a different path through a special daily quest, similar to the two factions in Sholazar Basin.

The kvaldir have completely occupied Hrothgar's Landing, having constructed heavy defenses and entrenched themselves completely. The naval forces of the Alliance and the Horde have been destroyed. The kvaldir are revealed to be searching for a tuskarr artifact hidden on the island. The artifact, a large, richly decorated sea shell, is the prison of a powerful and evil water elemental that the tuskarr defeated centuries ago. The kvaldir release the elemental, Fathomfury - Lord of Dark Water, intending to use him against an enemy they refer to as The Maw of Mists. Fathomfury intends sink the island as a celebration of his release, and must be destroyed before he drowns the players.

Changes to Instances in Icecrown

 * The Forge of Souls has been updated to reflect the final confrontation with Amal'Thazad and Prince Theraldis.
 * The Pit of Saron has been updated to reflect the final battle with several of the Twilight's Hammer sub-commanders, including Arcanist Zin'fanel, Dark Master Zorc, and Forgemaster Balehammer.
 * The Halls of Reflection have been updated to reflect the final battle against Twilight Master Velius, and the Twilight's Hammer of Northrend.