The first of many

(OC) To say that the above image is huge... well, that's an understatement. Hopefully, this is the first of many leaks that will come to us as Blizzard begins amping up the Alpha and Beta testing for WoW: Cataclysm. The above image blasted out on the internet this morning, showing the new resident baddie, Deathwing, right on Stormwind's doorstep. Of course, speculation is abound about the authenticity of the screen capture. Either way, the "nameless" source is risking a lot putting it out there for us to see. If it is a fake, well, I tip my hat because it is one hell of a mock-up. It looks like all the info I've gotten on big D-Dub could be acurate, as far as looks go. We know that Dub fused armor plating all over his body to contain the lava and fire that was errupting out of him after his fall from Neltharion the Earth Warder, to Deathwing the Destroyer. I want to save most of that for the upcoming coverage of the Aspects and Dragonflights.

Looking at Deathwing does bring me one question: Where's the new water effect in Stormwind's Valley of Heroes? The above image, said by Blizz staffer Bornakk, is suppose to be... The Blasted Lands? Wait... I haven't even gotten to the lower southern half of the Eastern Kingdoms! How am I going to cover the Blasted Lands, knowing that they're changing into this? Notice the new water effects though. Awesome and I'd say Blizz is bringing their graphics up to par with some of the other MMOs out there.

Ok... the first leak has hit, soon, hopefully, more will follow. Stay tuned!

Lordaeron and it's future, part 4

The Arathi Highlannds are just a stone's throw, over Thoradin's Wall from Hillsbrad. Once the original, great human kingdom, it is now nothing more than a basin within the mountains, with a few farms and ruins. The former orc internment camp is now a Horde settlement at Hammerfall, although their forces are almost as scant as the Alliance forces in the area. Stromgarde, the last fortress in the area, is a shambled ruin of it's former self. The Alterac refugees known as the Syndicate, use it as one of their primary bases. The city would rival Stormwind if it had survived.
Even the Thanol Span, the great dwarven bridge, is falling. The Dark Iron Dwarves control it for the most part.

Ogres and Trolls, not allied to the Horde, control most of the open areas in Arathi. The elements from the elemental plane also run rampant across the land. My friend, Lanferia, says the visions of destruction seem to come to her here, pointing to the elements. Yet, she says Arathi won't be the focus. The Shaman are also whispering that the elements are awake and angry. Perhaps the Old Gods stir since another of their number was destroyed in the Titan-made prison of Ulduar.