Feralas like many other zones is often overlooked. I often find that those of us who have been playing this game for so many years now are almost blind to the content and the world around us. So by means of re-familiarizing roleplayers with the world around them, we bring you this series of posts. We will also include a bit of lore and atmosphere with each location, along with images and any other little bits of information we can find for you. You can find the rest of the posts in this series here: Exploring the World of Warcraft Series Index.
Location: Feralas
Feralas is a forested area in western Kalimdor, Azeroth. It operates on the main timeline.
Feralas Lore: Ancient History
Feralas is a lush rainforest located in the western reaches of Kalimdor. Once simply a part of the landmasses continent-spanning forest, it was notable only for the glittering jewel that lay nestled at its heart; the wondrous city of Eldre’thalas.
Built twelve thousand years ago, this metropolis was one of the largest within the Night Elven Empire. Home to many of Queen Azshara’s devoted Highborne servants. Among this already prestigious group, a sect of powerful arcanists called the Shen’dralar (“Those Who Remain Hidden” in Darnassian) dwelt within the walls of Eldre’thalas, led by the infamous Prince Tortheldrin. These powerful mages were some of Queen Azshara’s most revered spellcasters. And as such were charged with the safekeeping of some of her most precious tomes and artefacts.
Feralas Lore: The Burning Legion
However, despite their devotion to the Queen; it is worth noting that the city did not side with Azshara and the Burning Legion during the War of the Ancients. This is likely due to the fact that Eldre’thalas was located in a far-flung corner of the elven empire. Far from the Queen’s seat of power and influence at Zin-Azshari. This gave those that dwelt there the time and clarity to see the madness that had gripped their ruler. Even as Demonic forces carved a burning path across Kalimdor.
When the Burning Legion came, the Shen’dralar and the other inhabitants of the city fought with fervour to defend their city as best they could. Interestingly, Eldre’thalas did not align itself with the main force of night elf defenders opposing the Legion. However, it is unlikely they were resistant to the idea of joining the primary defending force. In fact, it seems likely that this small pocket of resistance (among others) were simply unaware of their compatriot’s efforts. After all, the Night Elven empire was truly vast and the scope of the Demonic invasion is hard to comprehend.
Despite the efforts of the powerful mages, the Legion came close to overwhelming the defenses. But the city and its inhabitants were spared thanks to the heroic efforts of its mighty Ancient defender, Tendris Warpwood and the heroic intervention of the Wolf Ancient, Goldrinn.
Feralas Lore: The City Undone
But while Eldre’thalas survived the worst of the demonic assault, the Sundering proved to be the cities eventual undoing. When the Well of Eternity imploded, and the world was ripped apart, the ensuing earthquakes caused further damage to the beleaguered city. The city was only saved through the efforts of Prince Tortheldrin and his followers channeling immense arcane energy. Together, they wove a great spell to shield Eldre’thalas (similar to that used by Suramar), managing to preserve a great deal of the infrastructure from the destruction.
Unfortunately, the Shen’dralar and Highborne occupants soon discovered that without the Well of Eternity, their powers and immortality had greatly diminished. As a result, the elves languished in lethargy within their isolated sanctuary.
The Prince’s Plan
In secret, Prince Tortheldrin concocted a plan to reinvigorate his people. Forging pylons in secret, before covertly summoning and binding a demon of immense power, named Immol’thar. Trapped within the pylons arcane prison, the demon would go on to provide sustenance and power to the remaining mages for thousands of years.
Alas, the power required to keep the demon-bound slowly but surely increased over the years, until eventually, it required more power to keep Immol’thar bound than could be siphoned and distributed. As a result, Tortheldrin decreed there was only one recourse – and a purge of the cities remaining occupants began. With the Highborne population of the city thinned, power could now be drawn from the demon indefinitely. But many formerly inhabited tracts of the city had to be abandoned due to lack of numbers.
Feralas Lore: The City Today
In time, with the absence of its former occupants, the city began to fall into further disrepair. Nature clawed its way back in, along with other, fouler forces; twisted Satyr, or the restless dead; those slain by the Prince’s treachery. Eventually, even brutish ogres brought over by the Orcish Horde settled within the dense forests, dominating most of the cities environs as well as a sizable chunk of Eldre’thalas itself.
Nowadays, little remains of the once glorious city but twisted ruins, writhing with warped and twisted beings. The wonders of Eldre’thalas are now mostly gone, lost to the mists of time. It goes by a new name now, one known by many and rightly feared by all; Dire Maul.
Some of the views around Feralas, with special thanks to the Spirit Wolves of Argent Dawn EU for their cameo appearance in these images. They were in Feralas at the time investivating and dealing with some of the corruption in the area.
Feralas Lore: The Forest Beyond
The forest outside of the city itself remained largely unchanged. Sheltered by towering cliffs on all sides, it remained a pocket of verdant growth and life in the otherwise barren southern reaches of Kalimdor. The only major change to Feralas came with the Horde, who brought the Ogres who overran much of Dire Maul. These creatures have been a corrupting influence, spreading through the land unchecked and leaving ruin in their wake. A Silithid Hive also formed in the forests southernmost reaches, that shared a border with Silithus as C’thun attempted to expand his sphere of influence. The exiled Grimtotem established a far-flung outpost, harassing the nearby Tauren hunting camps in petty vengeance for being cast out.
To further escalate tensions, the Naga also made a mysterious appearance. Swarming from the ocean depths to assail the Night Elven fortress of Feathermoon – located on the Isle of Sardor, just off the western coast. The Naga largely based themselves on the rightfully named Isle of Dread, south of Sardor as they orchestrated their attacks. Finally, through a portal wrought at the base of a Great Tree, corrupted Emerald Dragons disgorged themselves from the Nightmare to assail the waking world.
Feralas Lore: The Cataclysm
The Alliance and Horde dealt with each threat respectively; until the Cataclysm shook the world. The upheaval sank the Isle of Dread (which proved to be little hindrance to the Naga) while also shattering Feathermoon Stronghold and flooding much of the Isle it was located on. The Night Elves also lost Thalanaar, an outpost washed away when Thousand Needles was consumed by the ocean.
In response to these events, as well as an increased Horde presence in their southern forests, the Kaldorei sent cadres of Sentinels to reinforce Shandris Feathermoon, Tyrande’s adopted daughter, and to help rebuild a newer – larger – Feathermoon Stronghold upon the western coast of Feralas itself. New Thalanaar was also constructed on the newly formed East coast to try and contain the expansion of Horde forces.
Atmosphere in Feralas
Feralas is one of Azeroth’s precious few temperate rainforests. Unlike Stranglethorn, it hasn’t quite the climate to become tropical, leading to a few key differences. Whereas Stranglethorn is perpetually warm and moist, the forests of Feralas would be relatively cool. It would also have less diversity than its eastern counterpart, though it the vegetation would be no less dense and lush. Also, as the name rainforest might suggest, it is very often wet – lashed by regular rainfall.
There are a few key smells that would be detected throughout all of Feralas; the first of those being that crisp, clean smell of a forest after dense rain. Likely followed by faint undertones of decay, as fallen trees and leaves rot and turn into mulch. Damp soil and loam, very heavy earthen scents would also be predominant. As adventurers draw closer to Ogre infested areas, the smell of rot would become far more overpowering, mingling with the coarse, throat-catching scent of wood-smoke and faeces. The gut-wrenching aroma of spoiled lard and rotten meat are also likely to bombard you, becoming stronger the deeper within the Ogre’s territory you go. Finally, the keen of sense might notice something… Malign. Almost oily in nature, a smell that clings to the back of your throat and lines your mouth; the scent of dark magic.
Sounds And Music
As for sounds, the wanderer is likely to hear wildlife wherever they go. They may not see it, but creatures of all shapes and sizes live in the trees or scurrying through the undergrowth. Surprisingly, the sharp, piercing cry of the Hippogryph is also a common sound with the dense forest;, especially in the south-western reaches. An endangered species; this is likely a sound that raises the spirits of any race in-tune with nature, or that could raise the pulse of any seasoned hunter, looking for rare and dangerous game.
Other Feralas Music:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1w-lfD5Jngg – 10:15 video of music played in Feralas.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rbc20th9JTQ – Extended version of music, 37:12
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7G6FfKXvZX8 – Night Elven music “Nightsong”, 7:35
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TN9MZz-CI4s – Camp Mojache music, 0:35
Cultures in Feralas
Night Elves and Naga
Feralas, despite its isolation, is a melting pot of multiple races and cultures. The Night Elves stake a claim of inheritance to the ancient land, as they do much of Kalimdor. They indisputably control the western coast. Where they are battling the Naga for the ruins of the former fortress and the remains of the island it lies upon. In terms of an army, they far outclass the outposts of the Horde, having brought the full might of the Kaldorei war machine to bear. While not necessarily hostile on-sight, the Sentinels are known to be ruthless in the execution of their duty; thus, it stands to reason members of the Horde would tend to exercise extreme caution when in proximity to the western shore and Feathermoon Stronghold.
Tauren
But there is more to the Night Elves than their army. They an ancient and wise race, with an excess of compassion and wisdom to share. They are amenable with Tauren, with whom they share a great deal in common, including their reverence for nature and the wilds. This could explain the prevalence of Tauren culture in what otherwise could be considered Night Elven lands; namely, Camp Mojache to the east, bordering the Lower Wilds and Thousand Needles, and Camp Ataya to the north, near the ruins of Ravenwind and Desolace. Suffice to say, if you defile the purity of the land, you would make an enemy out of both of these races – a fact that the Gordunni have swiftly come to learn.
Harpies and Emerald Dragons
The Harpies the dwell in the north-western ruins are as cruel and callous as any of their species, rending any who would venture into their territory with claws, teeth and twisted magics. A trait that is mirrored by their nearest neighbours, the corrupted Green Dragons who have been disgorged from the Emerald Nightmare. These twisted shadows of the former dragons attack any who enter their domain with reckless abandon. But have become markedly less dangerous in the years since adventurers slew the mighty corrupted wyrm’s that once guarded the gateways into the Emerald Dream.
Gnolls and Silithid
The Gnolls of the southern lowlands are mostly mindless and aggressive, showing little qualms about butchering any foolish enough to be caught by them. After all, leather for their tents has to come somewhere and the twisted creatures are always hungry for fresh meat. But the astute observer may also notice panic in the creatures dull, black eyes – and a habit of glancing fearfully to the south. For while the Gnoll seemed to be expanding northwards in aggression, they are pursued by a far more relentless foe than the Horde or Alliance. Namely, the Silithid who burrowed into Feralas from the south.
These creatures have no discernible culture or morals – they are a hive mind, a swarm that surges forth with a single relentless purpose, driven by their dark God, C’thun. Since the Old God’s defeat, the creatures have become far more mindless, their expansion ceasing… But they are no less dangerous for it
Small Spots and Pretty Props
In the hills, west of the Frayfeather Highlands, there is a small abandoned camp. It is easy to reach with a flying mount. You can also reach it on foot through a hidden path up the cliffs.
A hidden goblin operated ‘Resort’ can be found tucked away in the cliffs. This requires flying skills and a flying mount to reach
Feralas Extras
Lake Dumont
This is a huge lake with an island and a ruined mage tower in it. Located in the mountains to the north, above Dire Maul. Easy to reach with a flying mount, though allegedly it can be reached on foot using the coordinates [55, -440], north-east of Dreamer’s Rest. I don’t have coordinates and couldn’t find the path myself – worth checking if someone DOES have coordinates. Further pictures of the island below (plus bonus night elf ruins on the lake’s northern shore.) Interesting fact! Every NPC on the island (bar the cats) is a reference to a former and/or current Blizzard employee, all who worked on a variety of games.
Tweet ThisWe hope you found this useful and if you did comment below! Tell us about any roleplay you’ve done in Feralas!
