Spider Kingdom fan expansion concept

[Golden Yak]

Inspired in equal parts by Cataclysm, Wrath, various wow fan works, and my own not inconsiderable insanity, I've created a fan expansion for World of Warcraft:



I've been using WoWpedia's fan fiction section to set up pages related to all the dungeon, storyline, and zone ideas I've come up with, and I'll be organizing them together into what will hopefully become a self-contained fan expansion wiki page.

The Spider Kingdom

It started out as a raid idea, grew into a zone, and has since blossomed out of control into what it is now, which is still growing (Old Gods help me). The concept is in two parts - The first centers around the reshaping of Northrend due to the Cataclysm and the death of the previous Lich King, Arthas. The second part will involve exploring the depths of Azeroth's underworld, the Spider Kingdom of Azjol-Nerub and beyond.

There's a lot of talky, so I'll be trying to break it up over time with some artwork - maps, characters, monsters, and so forth.

Check for updates below.

This thread is also on the Official WoW Forums in both the General and Story sections - feel free to comment there if you wish:
http://us.battle.net/wow/en/forum/topic/2089281854
http://us.battle.net/wow/en/forum/topic/2191130878

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Basic Information
* The Spider Kingdom Revealed: New content zones have been added - The Upper Kingdom, the Shadow Web Caverns, and Ahn'Saron - the Inner Kingdom. These zones are accessed through the Pit of Narjun in Dragonblight. A fourth zone, the Wound of the World, acts as the center of the Spider Kingdom and a natural barrier separating the leveling zones, but contains no leveling content.
* New zone content is level 90+.
* Level cap is set at 93. Advancing from one level to the next will involve the Path of War leveling system.
* The Cataclysm has rent Northrend asunder, altering many of it's regions. The fall of Arthas and the rise of a new Lich King has also brought about a drastic change in the balance of power all across the continent. The Northrend content remains a 70-80 leveling experience.
* New dungeons and raid instances have been discovered throughout the new Spider Kingdom zones, as well as the newly reshaped Northrend zones.
* New battlegrounds and new arenas are available.

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New Spider Kingdom Zones

The Upper Kingdom



Shadow Web Caverns



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New Spider Kingdom Dungeons

Naxxramas, the Fallen Necropolis

Riplash Ruins

Doorward Underhalls


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Northrend Zones post Cataclysm

Northrend's zones have been wracked by the Cataclysm as well, changing the leveling experience. Here's a few of the new maps:


Howling Fjord

*The Iron Dwarves are in full retreat, having abandoned their dig sites. They have been replaced by Twilight Hammer forces.
*The vrykul once loyal to the Lich King now follow a new undead leader - Death Queen Angerboda, wife of the fallen King Ymiron. Scourge forces have been replaced by Angerboda's vrykul and Cult of the Damned followers.
*Many younger vrykul have rejected the Lich King and Queen Angerboda, and follow Vidar Ymironson, son of Ymiron and Angerboda.
*Kamagua and Scalawag Point were flooded and destroyed. The ruins are overrun with kvaldir. The pirates and tuskarr survivors have joined forces to resist them.
*The Ancient Lift was damaged in the Cataclysm. It was rebuilt and will now lower travelers to the coastline where they can find the refugees of Kamagua and Scalawag Point.
*The Apothecary Camp has been fortified and built into Blightbrace Point, in response to the increased Twilight Hammer presence in Northrend, as well as the Alliance take-over of New Agamand.
*The Twilight Hammer have occupied Whisper Gulch, turning it into a heavily fortified stronghold, the Twilight Ravine.
*Landslides have buried Fort Wildevar, and marauding nerubians pick through the ruins. Alliance forces have relocated to Giant's Run, which has been abandoned by the Iron Dwarves.
*Camp Winterhoof is under siege by rampaging Frost Elementals. The Cataclysm has caused many of the Taunka's captive elemental servants to break free and run wild.
*The frost nymphs of the Frozen Glade have healed the land further, expanding the Vibrant Glade into the Verdant Grove, a neutral quest hub.
*Something dark is rising beneath Gjalerbron... The Scourge have abandoned the area, but the vrykul have not. Angerboda has returned to continue the practice of reviving slumbering vrykul warriors. But more than just vrykul are being unearthed - Faceless Ones have breached the lower tunnels and are fighting their way to the surface.
*Valgarde and the lake surrounding Utgarde Keep have collapsed into the underworld, exposing the max level raid instance Utgarde Catacombs. The Alliance have taken over New Agamand and the nearby lift as their new Northrend staging point, renaming the town New Valgard.
*The Forsaken displaced from New Agamand have moved north to Halgrind.

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Dragonblight

*The Pit of Narjun has opened wider, and now leads down to the underground zones of the Spider Kingdom! The instances Azjol-Nerub and Ahn'Kahet: The Old Kingdom are still available in their original location. Kilix the Unraveler is gone, but new quests are in place.
*Westwind Refugee camp has become Westwind Village, and involves new quests around the expanded Pit of Narjun, which has swallowed Icemist Village.
*Agmar's Hammer now sits on a cliff overlooking the expanded Pit of Narjun.
*The ley line fracture along the Glittering Strand has expanded, further devastating the Lothalor Woodlands. The Twilight Hammer are up to something here. The Star's Rest camp has become Lotharlor Lodge to deal with the growing threat.
*San'layn and other Scourge remnants have been spotted in the ruins of Indu'le Village. The Cataclysm has drained the lake, exposing the ley line fracture there. The Twilight's Hammer are here as well...
*The blue dragonflight have rejoined the Wyrmrest Accord, but now Wyrmrest Temple is under attack by both the black dragonflight and the twilight dragonflight. From Outland comes Tyrigosa representing the blue dragonflight and Karnyaku representing the Netherwing, seeking to join the Accord. Jorad Mace is a quest-giver here.
*The Azure Dragonshrine is overrun with mana elementals. The blue dragonflight representative at Wyrmrest have quests related to the area.
*The Ruby Dragonshrine is under attack by hostile forces from the Obsidian Dragonshrine.
*The Emerald Dragonshrine has been flooded and destroyed in the Cataclysm. The green dragonflight is seeking to establish a new sanctuary.
*The Cataclysm has opened a sinkhole underneath the Bronze Dragonshrine, causing the sands and bones within to sink into an underground cavern. Time inside the cavern has become so twisted, even the bronze and infinite dragonflights cannot control it. Many new quests have been added.
*New Hearthglen has become a ghost town, with the few survivors of the Scarlet Onslaught driven insane. Scourge remnants are seeking to raise the fallen Scarlet Crusaders as a new army.
*The Forgotten Shore has been flooded by the Cataclysm. Surveyor Hansen is not happy. The Argent Crusade is here to try and retake New Hearthglen.
*Avalanches have crushed Venomspite. The Forsaken there have moved...
*Naxxramas has fallen, and the raid instance has been removed. Portions of the fallen necropolis have been seized by the Forsaken and turned into a Horde stronghold. Alliance from Wintergarde Keep are trying to dislodge them. The Carrion Fields have become a battle ground between the two forces. The Onslaught base camp has become infested with mindless undead.
*The Wrathgate's Court of Skulls has become an Ashen Verdict stronghold, replacing Kor'kron Vanguard and Fordragon Hold. The Wrathgate is open, exposing previously unexplored areas of Icecrown Citadel. Scourge remnants are holed up inside.

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Zul'Drak

* Necropolis Zeramas and Necropolis Voltarus have fallen from the sky. Scourge Remnants remain holed up within.
* Blight has spread from the fallen necropoli, turning the lower tier of Zul'Drak into a swamp of plague and undeath.
* The Knights of the Ebon Blade are devoted to destroying the Scourge Remnants in the region, while the Argent Crusade wants to focus on cleansing the corruption and evacuating survivors.
* Drakuru's Blightblood trolls are running rampant, spreading carnage throughout Zul'Drak's lower levels.
* Portions of Drak'Sotra have sunk underground, and nerubians have risen up, bringing along Faceless Ones. The Argent Crusade is focused on holding back the tide.
* With many of the troll gods of Zul'Drak dead, the Drakkari are looking for something new to worship. The Twilight's Hammer have arrived to spread their dark gospel. Twilight's Hammer forces and elementals have replaced Scourge forces throughout Zul'Drak.
* Zim'Torga has been destroyed by the Drakkari and the Twilight's Hammer. The Zandalari there have been forced to retreat.
* The upper tier of Zul'Drak has been conquered by the Twilight's Hammer. Their rituals have already begun shaping elementium and twisting the region.
* The Mam'toth Crater has broken open, revealing underground tunnels infested with nerubians and encrusted with saronite deposits. A mining operation has been set up by the Twilight's Hammer, who have developed an interest in refining saronite.
* The Twilight's Hammer are corrupting the shrines of the Drakkari gods, attempting to resurrect them as twisted, evil shadows of their former selves.
* The upper temple at Gundrak has been rebuilt into a massive twilight portal, where the Drakkari and the Twilight's Hammer are attempting to summon forth a gigantic [Faceless One - Zildrohar the Traveler.

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Icecrown

* The Scourge forces on the surface of Icecrown Glacier have been reduced to mindless undead. Most of the Scourge forces along the great gates have been replaced by Twilight's Hammer forces.
* The blue dragonflight has secured Sindragosa's Fall from the Scourge remnants, but the twilight dragonflight has begun to attack. Twilight's Hammer forces are attempting to excavate more blue dragon remains to create wychwyrms.
* Portions of Icecrown Glacier have collapsed, exposing the Spider Kingdom and releasing nerubians and Faceless Ones to the surface.
* The Argent Coliseum has collapsed into the Icy Depths. Nerubians are swarming through the tournament grounds. The Ashen Verdict have reunited to battle them back. The coliseum dungeon and raid have been removed.
* Aldur'thar, the Desolation Gate, was damaged in the Cataclysm. Twilight's Hammer and Scourge Remnant forces clash to secure what's left.
* Death Queen Angerboda has taken over the vrykul holdings in Icecrown. Her forces and the Cult of the Damned are clashing with the Twilight's Hammer and other Scourge Remnants in the area. Vidar Ymironson has arrived with his forces, and plans to take down Angerboda once and for all.
* In Icecrown Citadel's courtyard, Twilight's Hammer forces are clashing with the Ashen Verdict.
* The Twilight's Hammer have seized the quarry that once held Malykriss, the Saronite Necropolis. The fearsome structure's whereabouts are unknown.
* The Icecrown Citadel raid has been removed.
* The Forge of Souls, the Pit of Saron, and the Halls of Reflection have been revised to feature Twilight's Hammer and Scourge Remnant enemies. The Twilight's Hammer storyline will be resolved here, leading into the Spider Kingdom content.

Icecrown Citadel - The Frozen Halls

Forge of Souls

Pit of Saron

Halls of Reflection


Check out the WoWpedia page for all of the revamped Northrend zones.

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Original Characters

Horde and Alliance scouts have uncovered the identity of the leader of Northrend's Twilight's Hammer sect!

Twilight Master Velius


As the ogre Cho'gall was to C'thun, the human Velius is to Yogg-Saron. Here's a snippet from the Twilight's Hammer page:

Velius was an adherent of the Twilight's Hammer cult in Northrend and a devout worshipper of Yogg-Saron, the Beast With a Thousand Maws. He became fascinated studying prisoners of the Scourge that had been forced to mine saronite, and how over time the prisoners became driven mad by the voice of Yogg-Saron. Inspired by tales of the dragon Deathwing's metal armor, Velius crafted his own armor from saronite, and grafted it directly onto his flesh, using refined liquid saronite to seal the bond.

Further information on the Twilight's Hammer of Northrend can be found here:
Twilight's Hammer of Northrend

Death Queen Angerboda


One of the new villains of the reworked Northrend content. Click on her name to see my fan article about her. Here's a snippet:

After the death of Arthas, many of the more intelligent Scourge regained their independence and broke away from the control of the new Lich King. San'layn Blood Princes, recognizing the power that the vrykul had, schemed to take control of the mighty race. Knowing the vrykul had little respect for elves, the San'layn retrieved the corpse of Angerboda and resurrected her, plotting to use her as a pawn to manipulate the vrykul. Almost immediately, Angerboda turned on the San'layn and destroyed them, seizing control of their forces for herself. Rallying all vrykul still loyal to the ideals of the Scourge to her side, Angerboda and her forces became one of the most powerful of the Scourge remnants.

I've also written up a fan article detailing the different factions of Scourge Remnants that have arisen in the wake of the Lich King's demise:
Scourge Remnants

Vidar Ymironson

Vidar Ymironson is the son of King Ymiron and Queen Angerboda, the prince of the vrykul people. He rejected his parents devotion to the Lich King and sought to free his people from the Scourge's control. Driven into hiding by the Scourge, Vidar has slowly recruited many other vrykul who share his ideals, and returned to Northrend in the wake of the Lich King's demise to lead his people into a new era.

Madra

Madragos, known as Madra when in his mortal guise, is a member of the blue dragonflight who acts as the flight's envoy to the Kirin Tor, with whom the blue dragons have allied in the wake of the Cataclysm. Relations are still strained between the Kirin Tor and the dragonflight that only a short time ago was devoted to exterminating them, but Madra is committed to the new peace between the blue dragons and the mortal races, and always strives to act in the best interests of both parties. Madra takes the form of a draenei male when interacting with members of the mortal races.

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Spider Kingdom Bestiary Entries


Nerubian Infiltrator

These frightening creatures are seemingly related to the nerubians of Azjol-Nerub. Although information about the nerubians and their various sub-species and servant creatures is scarce, even the most learned scholar of nerubian lore has never found mention of these beings anywhere in any records recovered from the Spider Kingdom. Infiltrators are roughly humanoid in proportion, with four more arachnoid-like limbs used for fighting. They are possessed of a nerubian's alien intelligence and, true to their name, are capable of great stealth, often disguising themselves with heavy robes to pass among humans or forsaken undetected.

When uncovered, Infiltrators will fight to the death, tearing at their enemies with their teeth and talons. To date, no Infiltrator has allowed itself to be taken alive. It is still a mystery as to what the Infiltrators hope to accomplish by sneaking into the cities of the surface world. Infiltrators have been sighted as far away as Valiance Keep and Blightbrace Point, and the Kirin Tor believe that a group of the creatures has infiltrated Dalaran itself.

Undying Tendrils

Deep beneath the frozen surface of Northrend lies the Old God, Yogg-Saron, imprisoned an eternity ago by the titans. The dark entity attempted to break free of his chains at Ulduar, the ancient titan city, but his schemes were foiled by agents of the Alliance and the Horde, who fought their way into the prison of the Old God itself, and struck it down.

But Yogg-Saron's gigantic corpse is still a danger to the lands of Northrend. Without a mind to control it's alien biology, the vast carcass has begun to grow and mutate even as it rots, sending decaying tendrils of unnatural flesh growing up through the earth like weeds. These Undying Tendrils breach the surface deep in caves and cold lakes, growing ever upwards towards the world that Yogg-Saron had sought to remade. The Tendrils are disgusting, rotting things, their withering skin bloated with blisters of foul, liquified saronite, the Old God's poisonous black blood.

Nerubian Newbreed

The recent uprising of nerubians in Northrend has provided disturbing new information to scholars of the Spider Kingdom. While at first glance the difference between one nerubian and another might not be apparent, there are some startling differences between the older nerubians cataloged and the newer creatures carrying out recent attacks. The more recently encountered nerubians are larger and more muscular, their carapace noticeable more durable. Their multiple eyes are arranged in a different configuration, giving them superior eyesight and visual acuity. Strangely, their brain-case is much smaller, meaning these nerubians are far less intelligent than specimens encountered in the past.

The most startling piece of information is perhaps the most troubling - the new nerubians launching attacks all across Northrend are only a few years old, far younger than should be possible given previous knowledge of nerubian maturation. If this new generation of nerubians are capable of reproducing and maturing with such frightening speed, the once near-extinct nerubian species may soon grow far greater in number than any other race on Azeroth.

Wychwyrm

When Malygos fell, his control over the re-aligned ley lines of Northrend was lost. The Cataclysm only made matters worse, releasing tremendous arcane energy all across Northrend. The arcane storm caused by the ley line rupture tore apart the Nexus, slaying dozens of blue dragons with its fury. Ordinarily, arcane energy does not produce necromantic effects, but the blue dragonflight has a greater affinity for arcane magicks than any other creature on Azeroth. The arcane energy infused itself into their remains, replacing their natural life force. The blue dragons rose from their grave, animated by pure arcane energy, now known as wychwyrms. Resembling frost wyrms superficially, wychwyrms are surrounded in an aura of arcane power that resembles the living dragon they once were. This aura allows wychwyrms full function, even if their remains are damaged or incomplete.

Unlike undead dragons created by the Lich King, wychwyrms are not operating on animal instinct in the wake of his fall. They are aware, as they were in life, and under the control of a sinister, intelligent force that appears to have a direct connection with Azeroth's ley line network. This force is identified by the wychwyrms as the Malevolence. What this force wants, what designs it is directing the wychwyrms to carry out, is still a mystery.

Check the bestiary page on wowpedia for lots more.

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Spider Kingdom content previews:
Rough concept of Ahn'Saron, the Inner Kingdom zone:


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[Lancer]

Those maps look really awesome. Keep up the good work.

[Synithin]

Looks nice and interesting keep going \o/

[Shalaman]

Strech the map alittle more so it covers the Argent Tournament part of icecrown. If you did ToC you will understand why

[bloodkin]

nice work ! spider exp alone won't be enough for a complete expansion, but the basics are here, and since you say ur insane, u bet we are going ot see a lot more

[Toho]

might i suggest that you can choose between a Scarab race and a Spider race? spiders would resemble something like a human but fused with spider-like features. Scarabs would resemble Dreanei but have scarab features.

yes the explanations are lazy but that because I'm tired. so let try to add to this shall we?

[Yooya]

Your artwork is very good. I don't think there is enough variety in the idea which is crucial.

Also I would hate it. Hate it. Hate it. Hate it. I would have to gouge my eyes out every-time I neared a boss or faced a mob.

[Mogrutana]

might i suggest that you can choose between a Scarab race and a Spider race? spiders would resemble something like a human but fused with spider-like features. Scarabs would resemble Dreanei but have scarab features.

yes the explanations are lazy but that because I'm tired. so let try to add to this shall we?

I've always thought The Collectors would fit a "Nerubian" kind of race perfectly. As for the idea of the expansion as a whole, I would love it, if only because I really really wanted the underground Azjol'Nerub zone in LK instead of the cheap instance we got

[The Last Cookie]

i love the idea

[Exodian]

Wow... Please keep going!

I'd love to see something like this implemented, but I think adding a cavern under ATG could add important lore elements to Azjol-Nerub

[wasniahC]

oh my god I love this and need more hnngngggggg
Also, I read the wiki page a bit, and think you should consider.. not all the trolls focal points of worship are dead. You better do something with that fucking huge snake in gundrak

[Scourge wolf]

Y'know I really love this idea. I was highly disappointed that there was never a full AN zone put in, nor much explanation about the Nerubians, their relationship to the Old Gods, and the Forgotten One.

I never thought about what would happen to the Vrykul after the fall of the Lich King. it seems ridiculous that they'd all be murdered. Maybe some of them (that hadn't joined this newly risen Angerboda) are put in internment camps like the orcs were (Maybe explaining some of the Alliance's debt, Westfall homeless, etc.).

Also, I like the idea behind The Wound of the World. Should there be another zone at the very bottom? Waaaaaaay deep down there, kind of like a world beneath the underworld full of twisted creations of the Old Gods. =)

[Vorack]

I really like this idea. Mostly because I really like the nerubians, but you have some pretty good groundwork there.

I was severely disappointed by how... incredibly small the nerubian kingdom was in wrath. The underground zone they promised us would have been so much more fulfilling.

---------- Post added 2010-12-19 at 06:04 AM ----------

Suggestion for subzone/faction/dungeon/city:

The sundered monolith, http://www.wowpedia.org/Sundered_Monolith

was the stronghold of the survivors of the spider war. Quests there could involve Brann Bronzebeard (who has an agreement with the monolith's inhabitants), and fighting against Angerboda's scourge.

[kneeo]

>8<
spider pride.

But seriously though. Sounds pretty awesome so far. Good work.

[Sjant]

Nice work indeed. Although I'd hate an expansion that took you back to Northrend. Good work none the less!

[Precursor]

When we go back to northrend or another world changing event, heck add them please maybe not a full expansion unless they all look quite differnt to each other

[JustinJgh]

That would be a terrible idea, the player base would revolt if given an expansion based on just that.


At best this would be a patch

[broflmao]

Make it so ToC is destroyed and my thumbs are up

[Vorack]

That would be a terrible idea, the player base would revolt if given an expansion based on just that.


At best this would be a patch

The same good be argued for Blizzard "just" revisiting the old world.

[Agoonga]

Spiders are so icky.