The Lower Karazhan (Karazhan Crypt) Discussion.

[Daginni]

The Lower Karazhan. A very much unknown and closed off area that is In-Game. It is only accessible via Exploits. Very little is know about the Zone.

Lorewise, it is believed to be the Up-Side-Down Karazhan that was shown in the book The Last Guardian. But due to the fact, it look nothing like the inside of Karazhan, and bears heavy resemblence to a Crypt, this is unlikely.

Gameplay wise, it could've been a planned Instance/Raid that got cut due to probably raising the games Rating. Or could've been a questing area, seeing how there is a complete outdoor instance In-Game and no Instance Portal.

<Below is Detailed Information about the Crypt>

Video about The Lower Karazhan.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHEKQoSv_E8

How to get into The Lower Karazhan. (Do at your own risk)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U__0QeRO4CI


(Information provided by TSLVideos)
==Zones==
There are a total of six zones within the crypts underneath Karazhan, each more gruesome than the last. The following speculation, and is just information through observation.


- Well of the Forgotten: This location is fairly plain, and is the first area you see as you enter. There is a tomb of unknown origins, in addition to a well that leads to the pit of criminals. It is evident that criminal corpses were tossed down the well in order to dispose of them, although the definition of "criminal" is unknown, nor if this area was under direct rule by Medivh.

- The Pauper's Walk: Possibly the largest of the six zones, the Pauper's Walk extends to nearly all other areas in the crypt, and is littered with skeletons, mummified bodies, and bones. The name appears to allude to its usage. A pauper, or literally a very poor individual, would make primary use of the area. Whether the lower class were paid to work in this pseudo-hell, or were led to their death, is unclear.

Various doors and gates appear in this area as well, all of which lead to nothing. This adds to the possibility that Blizzard has yet to finish Lower Karazhan. Many of the doors appear with odd names such as Doodad_WroughtIronDoor05, again demonstrating it's obvious incompleteness.

- The Pit of Criminals: As mentioned in the previous section, the Pit of Criminals holds a massive pile of aged bones. Corpses were thrown down into the well, either to hide or to dispose of. A double staircase leads to an empty room, which through time appears to have partially caved-in.

- Tome of the Unrepentant: The most confusing of areas, the Tome of the Unrepentant is a large hall with a still-water pond and multiple access points from above. A tome is a large scholarly book, and there is not a single literary work to be found.

A possible reference to Keli'dan the Breaker is made, as he drops the [[Leggings of the Unrepentant]] in heroic Blood Furnace. The connection between him and this zone is, however, unlikely.

- The Upside-down Sinners: Possibly the most horrific zone in all of World of Warcraft, the Upside-down sinners is located underwater, just past the Pauper's Walk. In the murky water, chains and hooks string up men who hang with their feet to the ceiling. Their bodies untouched by time and unidentifiably mummified each retell a dark story of the games past.

This area makes the possibility of Lower Karazhan becoming an instance uncertain, as nothing this grim has ever been seen.

The Slough of Dispair: This area is a large room with nothing in it, comprising of a pit sprinkled with bones. Despite being uneventful to visit, the broadness of it's name causes it to be the most interesting. A slough contains two definitions of interest; 1) a muddy pit full of wet or soggy ground; 2) a condition of degradation, despair, or helplessness. (dictionary.com). The word "slough" quite literally describes the appearance of the room, but also oddly enough relates to the second word as well, making it "the Despair of Dispair".

Looking at the word "dispair", it first appeared to be incorrectly spelled. However, the terms dispair means the separation of a pair.

So finally, looking at the title again, it is saying "the despair of being separated". Perhaps married couples were killed here, or something major in lore occurred at this very spot. Either way, the empty room will impress lore-fans everywhere.

This area could be accessed via dying close to the gate and running through it, but this was changed in Patch 2.0. However, entry is still possible through dueling and being sheeped or feared into the zone (no longer possible), as well as through Warlock summons if there are already present inside.

[Grunthunter]

sounds like it could be a good raid but for some reason i doubt it will happen

[Daxter]

I gotta admit, you did your research.

I believe the lower crypt was meant to be an encounter during vanilla WoW, since it was also open during that time. (It even featured an instance portal back then)

However, i believe only time will tell, and who knows it could be a possible addition in Cataclysm.

After all Karazhan was home to Medivh....and who is Medivh's son and upcoming Guardian of the Tirisfal?

[op3l]

Karazhan is dead... hahaha get it? dead?

It may come back during Cataclysm. The whole theme with Cata seems to be the earth splitting apart. I wouldn't be surprised if during the event, some gate get's knocked loose or a crack is formed allowing the undead in lower Karazhan to come out and thus forming a level 85 raid or something.

[Daginni]

I also believe that in Cataclysm, the Crypt will not be opened, and may possibly be removed entirely from game.

But, I also believe a few people at Blizzard want people to see the zone, because when you exploit into it, you will of noticed that a piece of terrain was removed in order for the exploit to be possible. If I made a crypt with that much detail to it, I would be mad to see it removed.

Overall, it's a great area, and its worth taking a look.

Edit: This zone has fascinated me for years. Everything from the 'Upside-down Sinner' Room to the the sound quality in the Crypt. Turn your sound up, and you'll hear the "Beat Beat Beat" of a Heart in certain areas, random clangs. (also, people said they have heard very faint whispers).

[Joarrak]

Damn, I wish my subscription hadn't run out 4 hours ago! I'll have to buy a new timecard tomorrow and check it out, it looks awesome from that video .

[mosher94]

I remember the good times playing around in that crypt...too bad you can't get feared in anymore =\ (at least as much as I've tried recently). My 200 population guild held a meeting inside the crypt itself once - the large open space, I forget what it is called. The bodies in the water are very creepy though, and there are so many!

[Daginni]

I remember the good times playing around in that crypt...too bad you can't get feared in anymore =\ (at least as much as I've tried recently). My 200 population guild held a meeting inside the crypt itself once - the large open space, I forget what it is called. The bodies in the water are very creepy though, and there are so many!

3.2.2 way of getting into the Crypt (Use at your own Risk). To get out, die and force res.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U__0QeRO4CI

[iProd]

The place really has a Diablo dungeon feel to it...man, if they open this place up, I hope there's barrels of gold inside.

[Coronius]

Excellent thread.

I love this area. Unfortunately, I think this is one of the many areas that Blizzard has "forgotten" about completely. Making this a quest hub or something would be cool though.

EDIT: They could at least remove the damn gate and make it an open roleplaying area.

[Deleted]

I watched the vid. The whole thing has a very horror-like feel to it - as if youd expect something to jump in your face any second, lol. Easily the creepiest place in WOW.

[DreamOfTheRood]

It's been in the game for a very long time and was originally supposed to be a part of the Karazhan raid. Obviously, they decided not to use that section for the raid, so there it sits.

[Capt_jesus]

I wish theyd impiment this, perhpas you assist Medan when he goes to Kara looking for his father, somehow you end up here...

[MagicBanana]

Perhapse a concept area for a CoT instance? Wishfully thinking, but it would be cool

[Powell]

Perhapse a concept area for a CoT instance? Wishfully thinking, but it would be cool

damn, you beat me to it

[Chrizesu]

It has the feel of a Zelda dungeon, which was once stated as one of the inspirations in WoW if I remember correctly.

I'm not sure if you still can or not, but there's rogues who've killing spree'd into there.

[Genshin]

So cool.

[ppaladin123]

I just wanted to point out that "the upside-down sinners," is a reference to and a recreation of a locale in John Carpenter's, "Big Trouble in Little China." http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090728/

If you haven't already seen this movie you should immediately. It also inspired the Mortal Kombat series and is referenced in the in-game item, "the six demon bag" (wind, fire...that sort of thing).

In the movie they reference several "Chinese Hells."

# The Hell of Being Cut to Pieces
# The Hell of Boiling Oil
# The Hell of the Upside Down Sinners
# The Hell Where People are Skinned Alive
# The Hell of the Oily Dragon

The only one that actually shows up is the Hell of the Upside-down Sinners. It is just as shown in lower Karazhan and quite scary.

If there are any other oldtimers reading this post they'll back me up.

[Capt_jesus]

Im sitting there right now taking SS

[greysin]

EDIT: finally got it