Where were you when the world Shattered?

Where were you when <insert event here>? It is common to reminisce about “life changing” events by starting the conversation with this question. Usually these events are large, world changing things. Most people wouldn’t take note of such an event in a virtual world.

On the old WoW forums, there was a thread that asked, where will you log out when WoW ends? People had wide and varied answers, from the original spawn point of their character to the floating islands in Nagrand. Many players even listed what their character would be wearing or doing at the moment of the world ending. At the time, I really didn’t have an answer. Perhaps the Opera house of Karazhan. Perhaps the Stormwind Cathedral. Most often my answer was, in an inn, where I always log out. I never made a decision, because I wasn’t forced to. WoW wasn’t going to end any time soon.

Fast forward to November of 2010. The Shattering is upon us! (For those who persisted and don’t play WoW, today, 11/23/2010, the entire Old World of the game is being “destroyed” by the evil dragon Deathwing. Which is Blizzard’s excuse for an art and gameplay upgrade to the oldest parts of the game.) The world, for the character’s point of view, was ending. So where was I going to log out?

At this point I decided that no two characters would log out in the same spot. Each character would have their own reasons and logic for the place they chose.

  • Joyia, my main, a Human Warlock, chose to log out in Stormwind, the capital city of the Alliance. After all, she was born in Silvermoon City, and yet that place had ceased to be home. So she went to the Slaughtered Lamb for a drink, then stood in the Valley of Heroes to watch the world burn.
  • Pandari, my Night Elf Priest, chose to log out at the moonwell in Auberdine. Many people disliked Darkshore, but I hold a fondness in my heart for this night elf leveling zone, one of the first places I truly explored in WoW. Her healing arts would be needed in the tidal wave to come.
  • Summerriver, my Draenei Shaman, stood overlooking the Barrens from atop a mountain peak. Her shamanist powers telling her the source of the disturbance was here, and here was where she would be needed.
  • Feirea, my Human Mage, chose to stand by the side of Lady Jania Proudmoore. If her services were needed, she wanted to be near command.
  • Pandara, my Night Elf Death Knight, returned to the Acherus, her world already ended, but at least here, she could have some peace.
  • Birgitta, my Night Elf Hunter, on a hill in Winterspring, where she first turned level 60, looking into Hyjal, a zone that seemed to be coming to life.
  • Lumos, the Human Paladin, bringing light to the people of Darkshire. Patrolling Duskwood to cleanse it of Worgen and Undead.
  • Lindrelle, the Night Elf Rogue, battling for Southshore, against the vile Horde.
  • Dizdemona, the Human Warlock, on the hill overlooking Booty Bay. The crisp sea air blowing across the bay, whispering warning of distaster.
  • Leafdotir, a Night Elf Druid, returned to Ashenvale, to battle back the Horde, and protect the great forests from the upheaval.
  • Pouf, my Gnome Death Knight, on a hill overlooking Darrowshire. Perhaps she could help that poor lost soul, searching for her family.
  • Roivas, the Human Priest, a banker at heart, deep in the mountain of Ironforge, guarding her stockpiles against looting, with the hope of making a few gold once the dust settled.
  • Riaetha, the Draenei Priest, in Thousand Needles, watching a race.

Each of these locations are significant to the character, or significantly changed in the Shattering. It’s my way of saying good bye to all those locations, npcs, and quests that I experienced that are going to be lost in the change to Cataclysm. As odd as it sounds, I am going to miss some of this. I am sure the changes will be mostly for the better, but one can’t help but be nostalgic.

Alright, done with that. Now, on to the imagined Elitism that comes from being able to say: I remember when the Barrens was 1 zone, had a terrible chat channel, and I LIKED it.

One thought on “Where were you when the world Shattered?

  1. Ember Post author

    Kristie Lauborough – I wish I’d done something like this, but when I logged off last night I was so tired and just didn’t think of it 😛

    Ember – It was all a part of my Character Plan. tm. 🙂

    Kristie Lauborough – I meant to logoff Elyriel in the Temple of the Moon and Phaedris in Astranaar. Kathrynne… well, she’s a misanthrope anyway 🙂

    Ember – We can pretend Phae is out there with Leaf. 🙂

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