The Burning Crusade, the first expansion to the ever-popular World of Warcraft, contains many strange new lands for players to explore. After questing in the Zangarmarsh, the next most likely place for adventuring is the area known as Terokkar Forest, which is a huge area with three distinctly different zones. Besides the crystal forest itself, Terokkar is also where you will find Shattrath City and the Ruins of Auchindoun. Elkwinkarma, leader of Technologia, the official unofficial guild of TechRepublic, shares some screenshots taken during his exploits with other members of the Technologia guild.
Shattrath City is surrounded by dense forest on one side and mountains on the other. This gives the city a defensive advantage, which makes it the perfect refuge for a war torn civilization.
Evidence of the city’s inherent magical power is everywhere.
Shattrath does have factions and players are encouraged to pick a side. The Aldor faction have a base of operation in one area of the city.
Aldor faction members tend to follow the path of enlightenment.
Members of the Aldor faction are particularly attuned to Outland.
Shattrath is a sanctuary from all war-like activity. Although Technologia has participated in a few bar fights in the Lower City.
The Scryer faction has a heavy Blood Elf influence. Members of this faction are more attuned to the darker magical forces. Elkwinkarma is a member of the Scryers.
One of the more fascinating aspects of Shattrath City is its central location and neutrality toward Alliance and Horde characters. High-level characters congregate in the city to arrange raids and participate in commerce.
This image is of a Netherdrake — a flying player mount acquired by a long series of quests that raise player reputation with a certain faction. It is also one of the coolest mounts you can acquire.
Another cool flying mount is the Nether Ray. Lisettea, an officer in Technologia, completed many quests to get her Nether Ray mount.
Working your way down into the Shadow Tomb takes some planning. I had my pet eye, Sleepy Willy, along for company too.
The main quest in the Shadow Tomb involves the release of trapped spirits. It is one of the most inspiring scripted sequences in the World of Warcraft.
A tomb raider stabs me in the back — lets just say he won’t be doing that anymore.
While many areas in the World of Warcraft are attractive and interesting, there are some places that are not pleasant. Terokkar Forest has one such area — The Bone Wastes. This is a barren area full of the Scourge, demons, elementals, and those misguided souls that worship them.
On the outskirts of the Bone Wastes are a group of stranded refugees. It will help your reputation to give these people a hand.
Looking out from the forest edge you can get an idea of how vast the Bone Waste area truly is. Something major and terrible must have happened to cause so much lasting damage.
Traveling to the middle of the Bone Wastes will take you to The Ruins of Auchindoun. This was once a great city, but it is now just slightly more than a hole in the ground.
Inside The Ruins of Auchindoun you will find four instance dungeons. Each dungeon has unique inhabitants and quests.
The quests for one of the instance dungeons are offered by Ethereal beings. For many players, this is their first exposure to these mysterious mobs.
The Bone Wastes are not hospitable to outsiders. You will be stopped often to fend off attacks from demonic forces like this skeleton.
This poor dragon, Teribus the Cursed, is forced to live as a skeleton. A group from Technologia honor him by relieving his misery.
Teribus the Cursed is defeated in battle. Notice the rather large teeth.
Fortunately, the Bone Wastes aren’t the only area in Terokkar Forest. Much of the area is a plush forest teeming with wildlife.
From the air, Terokkar Forest seems so pleasant and peaceful.
The Alliance town in Terokkar Forest is the Allerian Stronghold. It seems tranquil.
But as with so many areas in the World of Warcraft, looks can be deceiving.
Many areas of in Terokkar Forest are full of creepy crawly creatures like these spiders.
The web from these spiders is a vital ingredient for many of Elkwinkarma’s recipes, so he hunts them often.
Sometimes you have to go after the mother of all of the smaller spiders. She is known as Terokkarantula. Lisettea and Elkwinkarma show her we aren’t afraid of spiders.
One fanciful quest gave a toy radio tank as a reward. You controlled it like a pet and you could do battle with other toy tanks. But alas, it was only good for a few battles.
Mark W. Kaelin has been writing and editing stories about the information technology industry, software, hardware, gaming, finance, accounting, and technology geekdom for more than 30 years.
