World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King – The Battle For The Undercity! (Horde)

The Battle For The Undercity is one of the many examples of Phasing Quest System technology in action.  While a level 15 is in the Royal Quarter in Undercity turning in the quest: Lament of the Highborne (sung by Sylvanas), and a level 40 player is doing the Razorfen Kraul quest from Varimathras, at that same moment and space level 74 players are smacking the heck out of Varimathras in The Battle For The Undercity.  It is not a dungeon. See, if you are flagged with the quest at level 74-80, you are phased in and all the Vendor NPCs, and players are phased out. Only those who are flagged can play alongside you.

It is the same undercity, just you can’t see the NPCs and players that aren’t flagged to the phased event. This technology has so many possibilities to progress the World of Warcraft storyline without affecting low level player quests. While a low level player is doing the Missing Diplomat he is flagged to see Lady Prestor, Bolvar and Anduin. At that very moment, a level 74 player is not seeing Lady Prestor nor Bolvar in the Throne Room. He is flagged to see Anduin and his father Varian.

BATTLE FOR THE UNDERCITY QUESTLINE

The following quest is available at Agmar’s Hammer fortress in Dragonblight, by the mailbox near Agmar’s chamber. Messenger Torvus will have a quest for you.

Messenger Torvus: Pssst … Over here, by the mailbox.  Come quickly and make sure you aren’t followed.

MESSAGE FROM THE WEST

(Torvus shakes your hand, giving you a letter in the process.)

(Torvus speaks under his breath.)

Messenger Torvus: Just play along, (name).

It is good to see you here, soldier!  Lord Hellscream has undoubtedly sent his strongest warriors to Lord Agmar!

(Torvus speaks under his breath.)

Read it and then destroy it in the fire pot next to me.

(Read the Letter from Saurfang and then destroy it. Speak to Messenger Torvus once you have completed this task.)

LETTER FROM SAURFANG

(Name),

If you are reading this letter then you are alive and in one piece – or at least you still have your eyes.

I must apologize for the secrecy.  Agmar demands that all mail is read before delivery – too many traitors and thieves there.  As the wanted poster no doubt displays.  There are delicate matters herein that could easily be misconstrued by the new guard.

For a soldier of the Horde, loss is absolute.  Loss means death and there is no negotiation or interpretation with death.  One can only hope that the manner of their death was honorable.

But victory … Victory can mean many things.  As you have probably noticed, the Kor’kron are there in full force.  The Warchief has sent his elite guard to help secure victory in Northrend.  They, along with you and other heroes, are pushing the Lich King and his forces towards an inevitable conclusion.  With each challenge you overcome, we are one step closer to ridding our world of Arthas and the Scourge.

And therein lays the dilemma.  For you see, our forces in Northrend work under the auspices of young Hellscream.  Each victory bolsters the morale of the Horde Forces here.  Which carries through to the rest of Azeroth.

It is unfortunate, then, that Hellscream employs such savage tactics.  As victory approaches, Hellscream gains further justification for his methods, which in turn brings us closer to a place we have not been in many years; a dark place.

I have sent my son to command our forces at the Wrathgate.  I know that he will battle with honor and I remain hopeful that his courage and tenacity will be noticed and emulated by our forces.  He is my heart and strength in a place that I cannot be … You will be my eyes and ears.  Together, we will make it right.

Blood and Thunder … May your arrival bring them both.

Saurfang

(Note: On the left of the mailbox is a glittering brazier. When placing your mouse cursor over it, it says: “Burning Brazier.  Requires Letter from Saurfang.”  Click it, and the letter is removed from your inventory, successfully destroying the letter. Talk to Messenger Torvus again.)

Onscreen: Letter from Saurfang read and destroyed. (complete)

(Torvus nods at you.)

Messenger Torvus: So we are understood?  I will return to my lord and tell him that you have accepted.

Note: Probably this quest makes you Revered with the Warsong Offensive.

Fly to the top of Wyrmrest Temple to talk to Queen Alexstrasza. To access this quest it seems you must have done all quests from Alexstrasza in Dragonblight and all quests in Agmar’s Hammer.

RETURN TO ANGRATHAR

With Antiok slain and the scythe in our possession, the frost wyrm assaults upon your forces at Angrathar will halt.  The wyrms that remain in the Dragonblight will be hunted and destroyed, their bones returning to the earth.

The time to make your final stand is now, (name).  Return to the Kor’kron Vanguard and notify Saurfang the Younger.

(Speak with Saurfang the Younger at the Kor’kron Vanguard and tell him of your victory over the Scourge.)

Saurfang the Younger: My father has gifted me with his armor and axe.  Soon I put it to use.

My father was right about you, (name).  Everything that he said has come to pass – only one final duty remains unfulfilled.  I will now lead the Kor’kron to the front line.  The time to end this war is at hand.  The Lich King’s tyranny ends today!

Take my post now,  (name), and stand guard over our forces.

(At this point, Phase-technology kicks in. Saurfang the Younger phases out, and Alexstrasza and Krasus phase-in in front of the Wrathgate. Everything is set ablaze, and Horde/Alliance flee in terror. Screams can be heard. Watch video above to reference this point.  Alexstrasza has an option that sets you to ask her to show you what has happened. An EPIC in-game Cinematic is launched)

You: Alexstrasza, can you show me what happened here? (image)

Alexstrasza the Life-Binder whispers: Come to me, (name).

Korialstrasz: My Queen, do they know?

Alexstrasza the Life-Binder: No, my beloved.  [Draconic] Ashj zila gul kirasath lok ante il lok buras danashj Gul gul.

(Korialstrasz nods.)

Korialstrasz: They will not.

The following quest is given by Queen Alexstrasza at the Wrathgate in Dragonblight.

DARKNESS STIRS

Queen Alexstrasza: Darkness stirs, (name). A tragic event has transpired that none but the Timeless One could have foreseen. Soon your people will be gripped by anger and hatred. War is on the horizon.

The red dragonflight has done all that it can. What happens next is in the hands of the mortal races of Azeroth.

Regrettably, your journey begins with anguish. A father has lost a child today. You must bear the grim news. Gather the armaments of Saurfang and return them to the elder Saurfang.

(Gather Saurfang’s Battle Armor from the field of battle and return it to High Overlord Saurfang at Warsong Hold in Borean Tundra.)

Note: Travel to Warsong Hold in the Borean Tundra, and meet High Overlord Saurfang there.

(Saurfang’s face contorts.)

Saurfang: My heart … my strength …

(You present to Saurfang, Saurfang’s Battle Armor. A sign that his son has perished in combat.)

(Saurfang looks to the heavens.)

Like Brox, my son died a hero.  Do not mourn him, (name).  For an orc, there could be no better end!  No greater honor!  At this moment, my heart swells with pride.

I thank you for returning our battle armor.  It will be placed upon his pyre at the Ancestral Grounds of Nagrand.

We must turn our full attention to more pressing matters.

HERALD OF WAR

High Overlord Saurfang: The Warchief needs you, champion.  Orgrimmar is in a state of martial law.  All merchants and services have been shut down as the Warchief prepares for an unavoidable conflict.

I cannot tell you much more – not now.  Not in this place.

The Warchief commands that our strongest champions report to his throne room.  Go now, (name)!  Take the portal back to Orgrimmar and seek out Thrall.

(Report to Thrall at Grommash Hold in Orgrimmar.)

Note: As you teleport to the front gates of Orgrimmar, outdoors, you see Forsaken Refugees on both sides of the road.  More refugees keep coming out of the Zeppelin tower.

Below are some quotes of what the Forsaken Refugees say:

Thrall: Kor’kron, stand down!  Jaina…

Lady Jaina Proudmoore: Thrall, what has happened?  The King is preparing for war …

Thrall: Jaina, what happened at the Wrath Gate. It was a betrayal from within …

Lady Sylvanas Windrunner: Lady Proudmoore, the Warchief speaks the truth.  This subterfuge was set in motion by Varimathras and Grand Apothecary Putress.  It was not the Horde’s doing. As the combined Horde and Alliance forces began their assault upon the Wrath Gate, an uprising broke out in the Undercity.  Varimathras and hordes of his demonic brethren attacked. Hundreds of my people were slain in the coup.  I barely managed to escape with my life.

Thrall: The Horde has lost the Undercity. We now prepare to lay siege to the city and bring in the perpetrators of the unforgivable crime to justice. Know this, Jaina: War with the Alliance is not in our best interests. If we are forced into a conflict, the Lich King will destroy our divided forces in Northrend. We will make this right, Jaina. Tell your king all that you have learned here.

Lady Jaina Proudmoore:  I will deliver this information to King Wrynn, Thrall, but… Bolvar was like a brother to him. In the King’s absence, Bolvar kept the Alliance united. He found strength for our people in our darkest hours. He watched over Anduin, raising him as his own. I fear that the rage will consume him, Thrall.  I remain hopeful that reason will prevail, but we must prepare for the worst … for war. Farewell, Warchief.  I pray that the next time we meet it will be as allies.

HERALD OF WAR

The demon lord, Varimathras, and the Forsaken’s chief apothecary, Putress, are responsible for this betrayal.

(Thrall nods.)

Yes, the same Putress responsible for discovering the cure for the recent Scourge plague outbreak.

Those that would not side with their regime have been executed or banished. Sylvanas was nearly killed in the coup.

The Horde has lost the Undercity. Orgrimmar will take on the Forsaken refugees until there is a resolution to this crisis.  For now we are under martial law.

A LIFE WITHOUT REGRET

On the day of my death I wish to be able to say that I lived a life without regret. Those who mourn my passing will know that I was a Warchief who made decisions that best served his people.

But this betrayal by Varimathras and Putress… All that we have worked for is for nothing.

(Thrall’s chest heaves with a heavy sigh.)

Justice must be served.

Portals to Undercity will be active momentarily. Vol’jin will be waiting for you. I will meet you there soon. Together we will make it right, (name).

(Take the portal to Undercity located in Grommash Hold and report to Vol’jin.)

Thrall: Kor’kron, prepare transport to Undercity.