User:GoldenYak/New Grizzly Hills

UNDER CONSTRUCTION related to Spider Kingdom Expansion Concept

The Grizzly Hills, located in southeastern Northrend, is a forested area, surrounded by the Howling Fjord to the south, the Dragonblight to the west and Zul'Drak to the north. It is the homeland of the Grizzlemaw furbolgs. Over 20,000 furbolgs live in this region, most in Grizzlemaw itself. The fortress of Drak'Tharon Keep can be found in the north. The main faction bases are Amberpine Lodge for the Alliance and Conquest Hold for the Horde. Both factions have begun developing the region, having set up logging and mining operations throughout their territory.

The Cataclysm has caused outlying coastal regions to flood, and Frosthorn Mountain in the south has gone volcanic, releasing a cloud of ash over the southern regions and turning the snowy plains black. The former Venture Co. outpost of Venture Bay was destroyed in the Cataclysm, putting a halt to the company's trade operations - however, the Cataclysm has also uncovered an oil field just off the coast of Venture Bay, and the Venture Co. has rapidly constructed a oil platform, the Gargantua-3 to exploit the new resource. The Scourge Remnants under the command of Amal'thazad have made this region their center of operations.

Wrath of the Lich King
After the disastrous assault on the Wrathgate by Horde and Alliance forces, both factions scrambled to rally their troops and replenish their depleted supplies. They both looked to the lush wilderness of the Grizzly Hills to provide their armies with food and building material for more weapons, war machines, and fortifications. Inevitably, conflict broke out between the Alliance and the Horde as both sides sought to drive the other away and secure the vast resources of the Hills for themselves.

Adding to the chaos was the war effort of the Iron Dwarves and their enslaved stone giant thralls against the Earthen and native mountain giants of the region. The Scourge took advantage of the conflict by unleashing the resurrected phantom of the archmage Arugal and his Worgen upon the human population. The Scourge then moved to seize the Drakkari fortress of Drak'Tharon Keep with the aid of troll agents, using the ancient structure as a staging point for their invasion of Zul'Drak.

At the heart of Grizzly Hills lay the fallen world tree Vordrassil, a failed effort by the night elves to recreate Nordrassil and recapture their lost immortality. The roots of Vordrassil burrowed deep into Azeroth's underworld and drank of the black blood of Yogg-Saron, poisoning the world tree and necessitating it's destruction. The furbolgs of the region attempted to revive the corrupted tree for their own purposes, using its power to bring about the unholy rebirth of the bear god Ursoc.



Cataclysm
When the corrupted black aspect Deathwing erupted back into the world, the forces he unleashed shattered all of Azeroth. Northrend has not escaped the devastation, and even the Grizzly Hills has been affected.

Areas affected:


 * Venture Bay has been flooded by the Cataclysm. Goblins have switched from deforestation to offshore oil drilling, and D.E.H.T.A. is not happy about it.
 * The Cataclysm has caused Granite Springs to expand into a large hot springs. The Zul'aman gang has left and goblins have set up Soft Springs Resort, a neutral quest hub. A number of Drakkari frost troll survivors are employed as servants.
 * More of Drak'Tharon Keep's un-instanced areas have been opened up. The Zul'Aman gang is all here, and ready to explore the troll ruins now that the Scourge has been largely cleared out. Scourge remnants remain in the Drak'Tharon Keep dungeon.
 * The Wolf Cult in the region has been surplanted by Amal'thazad's Death Cult. Plague Cauldrons are being shipped to areas throughout Grizzly Hills as Amal'thazad's forces plot to turn the area into a new Plaguelands.
 * The Drakuru questchain has been removed - a plot involving Death Cult infiltrators working for Amal'thazad will take it's place.
 * Blue Sky Logging Grounds has become an elaborate phased area. The Cataclysm has dammed Blue Sky River at the source, causing the river to dry up all throughout Grizzly Hills. The logging operation has been forced to shut down, but the Alliance and the Horde continue to battle.
 * Landslides have destroyed Amberpine Lodge. The nearby Blackriver Logging Camp is overrun with slimes and mindless undead.
 * Silverbrook has been taken over by Gilnean Worgen and become an Alliance town.
 * Frosthorn Mountain in the south has gone volcanic, becoming Firehorn Mountain. The surrounding area has been stained with ash and fire. The Horde have set up camp nearby.
 * Things have gone from bad to worse for the local furbolg. The corruption of Yogg-Saron has continued to spread despite the Old God's defeat at Ulduar. Undying Tendrils infest the region around Grizzlemaw, and the furbolg within are mutating into horrible monsters. Heart's Blood Shrine has expanded into a neutral quest hub where friendly furbolg seek help dealing with their troubles.
 * The Twilight's Hammer have occupied Dun Argol. They are experimenting with the Iron Dwarf weapon forges.
 * The eastern coast has been flooded. Mountain giants are warring with sea giants and naga.
 * Shadowfang Tower has been taken by Gilnean Worgen and become an Alliance quest hub. The Death Cult has infiltrated the town and is attempting to spread the Plague of Undeath.
 * The Twilight's Hammer have occupied Thor Modan to salvage the Iron Dwarf artifacts there.

Geography
The Cataclysm has caused flooding around the coastal regions, as well as the volcanic eruption of Frosthorn Mountain, which has been renamed Firehorn Mountain. The Blue Sky River has also dried up due to the Cataclysm causing a rockslide at the Blue Sky Logging Grounds.

Quests and Storylines
Both Horde and Alliance are seeking to strengthen their claim to the Grizzly Hills and weaken their rivals. PvP content has been updated to reflect the changes to the zone.

The druids of D.E.H.T.A have established a camp on the now heavily polluted coast of Venture Bay. They are attempting to put a stop to the Venture Co. oil drilling. Both Horde and Alliance forces stand to benefit greatly from the Venture Co. drilling operations, so players will be tasked with aiding the Venture Co. will at the same time avoiding angering D.E.H.T.A.

The Blue Sky Logging Grounds have been dammed by the Cataclysm, causing the rivers to dry up throughout a zone. A questchain in the region will have Venture Co. goblins setting up explosives around the source of the jam. The detonation will clear the block and restore the river, but it will also release Faceless Ones onto the surface!

Amal'thazad and his Scourge Remnant faction have established a foothold in the region, and agents of his Cult of the Endless Cold have infiltrated both Horde and Alliance settlements, where they are attempting to set up Plague Cauldrons and transform the Grizzly Hills into a new Plaguelands. Cultists have been spotted on Blood Moon Isle and throughout the regions logging camps. Quests will involve rooting out the infiltrators and putting a stop to the Plague Cauldrons. It will be revealed that the San'layn are seeking aid from the Cult of the Endless Cold in their battle against Angerboda and her faction. Vidar Ymironson can be found in the vrykul settlements in the region, rallying more support to his fight against Angerboda.

The Granite Springs have been transformed by the Cataclysm into a large natural hot springs, and the Venture Co. has set up a spa and resort at the area, the Soft Springs Resort. Many Drakkari refugees have been hired on as help at the resort, and several quests will involve the Drakkari's efforts to retake some of their ancestral holdings from the mindless undead that infest them.

The furbolgs of Grizzlemaw continue to suffer due to the corruption of the failed world tree, Vordrassil. Despite Yogg-Saron's demise at Ulduar, the corruption his blood has caused in the region has not lessened. Instead, it continues to spread and affect more of the surrounding areas. Furbolg in Grizzlemaw are beginning to mutate and Undying Tendrils are slithering up from beneath the surface to wreak havoc. The nearby Heart's Blood Shrine is one of the few uncorrupted furbolg settlements in the Grizzly Hills, where furbolg will provide quests to deal with the spreading darkness.

Along the coastline, mountain giants war with invading naga and their sea giant slaves. The giants are also having problems with agents of the Twilight's Hammer, who have begun investigating Iron Dwarf settlements in the region. It is revealed that the Iron Dwarves have all seemingly gone into stasis after the defeat of Yogg-Saron. The Twilight's Hammer are experimenting with possible methods of awakening them.

Changes to Instances in Grizzly Hills

 * Scourge Remnants in Drak'Tharon Keep now serve Amal'thazad and the Cult of the Endless Cold.
 * Living Drakkari trolls have been replaced with vrykul that serve Death Queen Angerboda.
 * A scene takes place before the Novos the Summoner encounter, where Novos speaks with Amal'thazad regarding an alliance with the San'layn and their faction to counter Angerboda.

Gallery
Grizzly Hills Grisonnes