Grim Batol

[Grimfury]

I was wondering if anyone knew any more or a place I could go to find out more about Grim Batol and all of the events that have transpired there leading up to currently in game. Just seems like a really cultured place.

[Mohan]

I believe Grim Batol used to be a dwarven stronghold. But near the time of the Second War, the orcs took over. It was pretty much the base of operations for the Dragonmaw Clan, who were responsible for holding the red dragon queen Alexstraza (sp?) captive and forcing her to produce eggs for the orcs' use in the war. At the end of the Second War, I think there was a battle between Deathwing and the other dragon aspects that resulted in Alexstraza being freed. Deathwing was defeated and Alexstraza proceeded to nuke the shit out of much of the Dragonmaw Clan, leaving them as you see them in the Wetlands in game now.

Rumors also speculate that Deathwing is being held captive by Alexstraza in Grim Batol now, hence the high-level elite red dragonkin guarding the place now.

Honestly, all that is really just a brief summary of the place. Wowwiki has some pretty good info, so I'd check there for some more in depth history.

[Fallacy]

The War of the Dragon is a good book to look up, as it explains the story in its entirety.

Deathwing was actually the one manipulating the Dragonmaw, through a shaman whose name escapes me at the moment. He used that orc to control the Red Dragonflight through the Demon Soul, which is a seperate and long story, as he was planning to use Alexstrasza to rebuild the Black Dragonflight. He alsowasn't captured. He plummeted into the sea after Krasus and his band rescued Alexstrasza and the other Aspects (who also came to her rescue) completely thrashed him; and he hasn't been seen since. No one knows if he's truly dead or not.

[Jethril_Blackflight]

Though, recent information leads to believe Deathwing resides in Outland, or maybe even another world altogether.

[Grimfury]

Good Information there, lots of speculation possible there. I read an in game book statin that the Wildhammer Dwarves had it as their stronghold after the war of the three hammers. Later on when they were attacked by the Dark Irons in a two pronged attack on Ironforge and Grim Batol, the place was tainted after they killed the sorceress co leader of the Dark Irons in the battle of Grim Batol. After this the Wildhammer moved away and resided above ground at Aerie Peak. Later on is when the dragons moved in from all I can gather. The place is haunted by the dead from all accounts. Hopefully we will be able to do battle there someday.

[Alucian]

Day of the Dragon is the book you're looking for, methinks.

And Deathwing never directly controlled Nekros, the head orc handler guy, but he was in league with Kryll, a goblin that Nekros listened to.

Here's the rundown on the whole story involving Grim Batol, the Demon Soul, and Deathwing.

Quoted from here (http://www.wowwiki.com/Demon_Soul), since they say it more coherently:


Presented to the other Great Aspects as a final solution to the problem of the Burning Legion, Neltharion convinced the other Aspects to offer up a portion of their essences as well as the essences of all members of their respective dragon flights. Each and every member of the dragon race with the exception of Neltharion himself offered their essence to the creation of the Dragon Soul. Through this act of deception, the Dragon Soul, aside from being an incredibly powerful magical artifact, gave Neltharion the power to control the will of all other dragons. As he was the only dragon who had not given of his essence in the creation of the device, he was also the only dragon capable of destroying it and in fact was able to damage it quite easily.

Rhonin, a mage of the Kirin Tor, was sent to free Alexstrasza from her imprisonment in Grim Batol. He had a high elf ranger companion named Vereesa, and later was joined by an Aerie Peak dwarf named Falstad (who is actually in the game). At this time, Nekros controls the Demon Soul, and uses it to force Alexstrasza to do his bidding (namely, make more eggs). Rhonin notes that while Nekros uses this device, he obviously has no idea the true power it commands.

During the journey to Grim Batol, Rhonin is separated from the others by Deathwing. Deathwing gives him a magical pendant that allows Deathwing to see through Rhonin's eyes as well as speak in his mind. It also allows Deathwing to take control over Rhonin's body if he wishes. So Deathwing leads Rhonin into Grim Batol (in fact, if Deathwing hadn't helped, Rhonin probably would have never gotten there).

Nekros was a paranoid orc. Signs of a feint attack from a distant area (I believe it was the west? I can't remember), along with the capture of Rhonin who he believed to be a spy, spurred Nekros to believe that he had to move the brood as well as Alexstrasza since he couldn't let his warchief down again. Rhonin was saved by his companions, and the orcs began their laborous trek.

Krasus, Rhonin's mentor in the Kirin Tor, actually turned out to be Alexstrasza's companion, Korialstrasz. While Rhonin was traveling to Grim Batol, Krasus met with the Great Aspects, pleading with them to help him free his beloved queen. All turned him away in one way or another.

The caravan had just begun when Deathwing arrived, fully intending to take advantage of their vulnerable position to finish off his hated enemy, and also steal her eggs to create a new dragonflight. Krasus tried to fight Deathwing off (who had already taken some eggs), but was badly wounded. The Great Aspects then appeared and did battle with Deathwing, and while Rhonin fought with Nekros for the Demon Soul, Alexstrasza broke free of her binds and slayed Nekros. Rhonin then used the scale in the necklace given to him by Deathwing to cut open the Demon Soul, and used a spell to direct the dragons' energies back to them. The Aspects, now fully restored, were able to send Deathwing packing.

Though I don't think an official Blizzard word has been given on Grim Batol, it appears that the dragons that are there are remnants of the children Alexstrasza was forced to bear, none capable of understanding what they truly are.

Feel free to fix what errors I made, I read Day of the Dragon in like two days, and it was a while ago. I've left out a lot of details. :T

[Grimfury]

That's the most information I've found so far, I'll have to check out Day of the Dragon too.........that ought to give me a couple good books to read to help out my background information on these. Thanks for the info.

[Raziel]

Nekros was the Warlock whom bound the Dragon after Rend and Maim Blackhand defeated Alexstraza in the Hinterlands and dragged her unconcious body to Grim Batol, a Dwarven Kingdom that was conquered by the Blackrock Clan in the First War.

Zuluhed the Whacked was the Dragonmaw Chieftain and oversaw the grand design of training the Red Dragonflight into fighting for the Horde. This plan came to fruition and saw armies of the Dragons scorching across Dalaran and Lordearon, and lead to a near extinction of Gryphons from Northeron in the Aerie Peaks.

Assumingly, since Alexstraza's freedom, she has turned her prison of a lair into a .. lair of a lair. Many Red Dragons are there, including a favored son Axtroz whom guards the gate.

As for Neltharion, he is not there. No one knows where he is. His Lair in Outland has been there for decades since Deathwing joined the Horde in the second War and used the goblins that were a grand part of it to mend his scales with Adamantium, the same material which bound Alexstraza (so hard not even the Aspects could break through it). Deathwing was given an Island far out into the Devouring Sea that was clan territory of the Warsong for his own lair to brood.

That's why he wanted Alexstraza's eggs, in order to facilitate the remaking of his Flight.

[Grimfury]

So presumably we might just meet up with Deathwing again when we are allowed to adventure into Outland.

[Raziel]

Doubtful that he'd return to Outland. One of his lairs are there (another exists in Hyjal).

What is a strong possibility is that you may bump into one of his Elder Sons, one that makes Nefarion bow down.

[Cyrass]

So presumably we might just meet up with Deathwing again when we are allowed to adventure into Outland.
We would be SCREWED if we did.

[Raziel]

Deathwing is completely immune to all types of physical damage.

You think about that.

[Aquizit]

I believe Alexstraza currently makes her home in Grim Batol, along with her consorts.. ( Tyranastraz, Korialstraz, etc.)

[Grimfury]

Maybe a weapon crafted with Deathwing's essence could presumably cause damage.

[Fallacy]

That was what destroyed the Demon Soul. Rhonin took one of his scales (which was given to him) and smashed it, freeing the Red Dragonflight from its control.

The Aspects defeated him because, well, they are the Aspects. Nozdormu aged Deathwing's body, Malygos is the master of all that is arcane, and I'm not sure what Ysera did, but, for Alexstrasza, let's just say that "Hell hath no fury like a mother."

[Raziel]

Alexstraza didn't do anything to Deathwing. She is the Life-Binder. She at most would pity him. This being said, Neltharion won't do anything to hurt Alexstraza, because he's been in love with her for quite some time.

[Vilmah]

Boy I miss the days when we had Alex chained down and popping out eggs to use in our army..

[Raziel]

Actually it was for use in the Shadow Council's Army.

[Vilmah]

They called it the "Orcish Horde" in WC2. I remember the dude's lovely baritone voice narrating. So whatever the hell army it was, I used to make that bitch pop out eggs all the time.

[Raziel]

http://www.knitemare.org/cats/270915355_c8b9ae48e6.jpg

Even though it was called "The Orcish horde" the politics behind is proved it to be little in the way of a single united force as much as it was in the First War. You had two entities: The Blackrock Clan and Devoted Horde Warriors under Orgrim DoomHammer, and the Blackhand Loyalists and and the Shadow Council under Gul'dan Stormreaver (Commanded by Dal'Render Blackhand and Cho'gall the Ogre-Magi).

These armies were seeking opposite goals. Each went in other directions to do it. It was due to this schism that the Horde eventually lost the war.

[Vilmah]

Yeh but it was called the Orcish Horde. And I'm an Orc. I wasn't going into a whole lore thing. I was reminiscing about a game I used to play in Middle School.

[Sulajin]

I want to get my hands on that... I remember once replacing certain sound files on it with my cousin... but that was the extant of my experience.

Blizzard should release a collection, it's the only one I'm missing. (Found the origional in a couple of prepackaged games that came with the first computer, or something. But I don't know where that computer is, and so haven't been able to play it.)

[Vilmah]

I just want the damn game manual from WC2.. >< I loved it so much!

[Alucian]

Alexstraza didn't do anything to Deathwing. She is the Life-Binder. She at most would pity him. This being said, Neltharion won't do anything to hurt Alexstraza, because he's been in love with her for quite some time.

Only then did Alexstrasza rise before him, the terrible nemesis. She gazed at Deathwing, still in part with pity, and said, "Life is my Aspect, dark one, and I, like all mothers, know both the pain and wonder that entails! For the past several years, I have watched my children be raised as instruments of war, slaughtered if they proved insufficient or too willful! I have lived knowing that so many died that I could do nothing for!"

"Your words mean nothing to me," Deathwing roared ... "Nothing!"

"No, they likely do not...which is why I shall let you experience firsthand all that I have suffered..."

And she did just that.

Against any other attack, even the nightmares of Ysera, Deathwing could summon some defense, but against Alexstrasza's he had no weapon upon which to draw. She attacked with pain, but her pain. She dealt not with agony as he knew it, but with that of a loving mother who suffered with each child torn from her, with each child turned into something terrible.

Which each child who perished.

"You will go through all I have gone through, dark one. Let us see if you fare any better than I did."

But Deathwing had no experience in such suffering. It tore at him where pain of vicious talons or ripping teeth could not, for it tore at him in his very being.

The most terrible of dragons screamed as none had ever heard a dragon scream before.

--- Day of the Dragon, pgs. 366-367

Before that, the Demon Soul wasn't destroyed yet, and they had a little smacktalk before the two of them fought each other "hand to hand", but this seemed the most vicious example of what the Great Aspects did to Deathwing during the attack on Grim Batol.

As far as good ol' Deathwing having the hots for her, it's possible. She seemed to have a lot of dragons that doted on her.

[Aquizit]

Each of the Aspects had multiple Consorts.. Nozdormu had 3, Malygos had 3, Alexstrasza had at least 2, Ysera had 2, Deathwing had 3... Probably more than the number I put down though, that's all I got from the War of the Ancients trilogy (haven't read the other one yet.)

Deathwing didn't love the Life Binder more than he lusted after her, wanted to claim her. That's my opinion, anyhow.

[Abric]

Obviously, she put out. And she had some junk in the trunk.

I'm still debating on picking up the Warcraft books. My nerd o'meter is near the top - and I don't want to hit critical mass.

[Fallacy]

You've all heard sex jokes about Onyxia, but Alexstrasza is the real slut of dragonkind.

[Raziel]

Vilmah, if you want, I can send you my book. It'd really be no problem as it's all in my head.

[Grimfury]

Grimfury is half dragon, sired by Draeg'thanos the bronze lord, he has a severe hatred for the black dragon family. It is my duty to learn more of them so that I may someday defeat them and avenge my mothers death as it was none other than the cult of Deathwing that brought about her demise.

[Grimfury]

Does anyone know any info about the Infinite Dragonflight or Shimmering Dragonflight?

[Raziel]

You mean the Chromatic Dragonflight?

[Fallacy]

The Infinite Dragonflight is a minor one (yes, there are other ones, like the White which was supposedly wiped out long ago), and, for some reason, is invading the Caverns of Time to mess up history. No one knows the reason.

[Raziel]

It is not a true dragonflight if there are no aspects to it.

Thus, they must be agents of a nefarious power.

[Fallacy]

"True" dragonflight is objective. There were others that existed along the Red, Green, Bronze, Blue, and Black, but only five were chosen to have Aspects, and they've just about all died off or are in hiding. The recent ones we've seen were ones just created by Deathwing or Nefarian.

But it is true that the Infinite is up to no good.

[Grimfury]

Were these other flights created or they always existed, also anyone know where I could read up on this?

[Raziel]

There's really no place to read up on any flight but the five main + Chromatic.

All that stuff is expansion material.

[Fallacy]

There's random hints through some very obscure sources, but it's just about limited to that we know others existed.

[Grimfury]

After playing WC3 over Thanksgiving as my account has expired, I remembered that Undead can produce Frost Wyrms. I wonder if since they reside in Northrend and are a main unit of the scourge, if maybe we will see a dungeon or some enemies in the expansion that reflect this?

[Fallacy]

There's already one. You fight Sapphiron right before Kel'Thuzad.

[Alucian]

I figured that was the only one, since Arthas raised that dragon specifically in another Arthas-esque twist of irony. I could be wrong, though.

[Grimfury]

I take it that encounter happens in Naxxramas?

[Keraph]

Yes, it does. Last boss before Kel'THuzad in Naxx. He's the only frost wyrm in game at current, but there were many in WC3, so I wouldn't be suprised that when we finally get up to Northrend, they'll be waiting for us.

I look foward to it >:D

[Aquizit]

There are the blues in Winterspring.. but yeah, only one Scourge controlled one.

[Shadowspeak]

Isn't Maligose, or however his name is spelled, still crying?

[Aquizit]

Malygos is still mad with grief, yes.. but he's still aware enough to govern magic, as he's supposed to, and was aware enough to fight Deathwing at the Battle of Grim Batol.

[Grimfury]

So basically the frost wyrms are just undead blue dragons then. The red dragons in warcraft 3 are absolutely massive so it would be cool to see some of that magnitude!!

[Mohan]

Not necessarily just blue dragons. There's a place on Northrend called the Dragonblight where all dragons go to die. So it's entirely possible that any frost wyrms could be undead dragons of any color.

[Grimfury]

True, I never thought of that, it does say that is where the majority of the frost wyrms were created.

[Grimfury]

The Northrend continent is pretty large, from what I read yesterday there are quite a few dragons up there, as well as dwarves, trolls, and humans.........plus of course Arthas.

[Shadowspeak]

Maligose (Excuse spelling) Is still up there in depression.

[Fallacy]

Not quite. If the Blue Dragonflight had actually died out like it had in the alternate timeline, then Malygos would. Otherwise, it's just where he keeps probably the strongest artifacts ever to have been created on Azeroth.

And I fixed that double post for ya, Shadow.

[Shadowspeak]

Stupid quick reply...

[Grimfury]

There are places of immense ley energy on Northrend............also I read that it's being heavily speculated that Deathwing is in fact a prisoner in Grim Batol. I read this in a number of posts. The other theory is that he has a lair in another yet to be explored region that I can't remember off hand. All signs point to him being alive though.

[Fallacy]

Deathwing isn't in Grim Batol, but Alexstrasza and most of the Red Dragonflight are. No one knows, more than he's likely dead, hiding in Outland (We at least know he visited there, and that led to the Netherdragons) or somewhere deep within Azeroth (the Blacks are attributed to the earth).

[Fallacy]

By the way, since I mentioned them, here's a white dragon. It is a model that is in-game, completely unedited.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y3/Angstflamme/whitedragon.jpg

[Grimfury]

That is an awesome looking dragon, but there is no other info about the white dragons then? Second question is that dragon actually in the game or just the code for it?

[Fallacy]

It's just an unused model. The game actually has quite a few of those.

[Grimfury]

That's cool, wonder what for?