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Players making their way through the Southern Barrens towards the Great
Lift in order to reach Thousand Needles will undoubtedly notice that
the thorny underbrush favored by the Razorfen Quilboar that inhabit the
area has expanded greatly. However, apart from the obvious expansion
this place looks much as it did before Cataclysm. Sure Razorfen Downs
is now clearly a part of Thousand Needles, but really it almost
technically always was. This sameness will probably come as a welcome
sight after the changes witnessed in the Barrens (a preview for another
day) and will give players high hopes for the zone of Thousand Needles.
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When you finally make it past the not so friendly Quilboar and the
perilous thorns that stand in the path of the Great Lift,
adventurers who have made it this far will be greeted with a rather sad
sight. The guards that once stood proudly guarding the lift are gone.
The Great Lift itself is broken and battered, no longer operational,
just another casualty of the Cataclysm.
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Stripped of the protective watch of it’s Tauren guards, the
Razorfen Quilboar have claimed the lands right up to the lift itself.
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Even more disturbing than the site of the abandoned lift is the view
players get when they peer over the edge into Thousand Needles. Water
has filled the lower portion of Thousand Needles as far as the eye can
see. Sea birds float on the air and fish live in the waters here giving
the impression that the water is here to stay, leaving players to
wonder what life can remain in Thousand Needles.
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The answer to this question is answered almost immediately on one of
the large stone pillars that remain out of the water. Here, much like
in the pre-Cataclysm world, the Grimtotem Taurens continue to make
their home. Undeterred by the waters now surrounding them the
Grimtotems have managed to remain alive in Thousand Needles despite the
odds. It also becomes clear at this point that Thousand Needles is no
longer a zone welcoming to players level 25-30 as the mobs here are now
in the level 40-45 range.
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Other notorious races that once made their homes in Thousand Needles
were not so lucky. The Galak Centaur tribe that made their home in
Splithoof Crag has been washed away. Pieces of their buildings float on
the top of the water while the rest remain intact under the waters.
Turtles not adept at swimming use the floating debris of the Galak
civilization as life rafts although rescue may never come.
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Horde players looking for refuge may head towards Freewind Post but
this beacon of civilization has also fallen. The lift here has been
destroyed and the dastardly Grimtotems have taken over claiming
Freewind Post as their own.
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With the invasion of the Grimtotems several new bridges have been
erected linking Freewind Post to the rest of the Grimtotem Empire. Not
all hope is lost for Freewind Post has several Freewind Warriors still
fighting valiantly along the bridges. The Grimtotems clearly have
superior numbers and it seems that eventually these warriors too shall
fall.
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Windbreak Canyon is totally underwater and small tornados spin on top
of the waters here. Even the Weathered Nook, a small cave positioned on
the cliff side, is filled with water. We can only hope that the two
Tauren who called this place their home made it out safely.
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On the
sheer cliffs that line north side
of Thousand Needles players will find a
brand new entrance
into Dustwallow Marsh. Judging by the lights that line the path, it was
created by those loveable characters; the Goblins.
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Further south where Thousand Needles becomes the Shimmering
Flats, players will find that this subzone has been utterly
consumed by the water and is now known as the Shimmering Deep.
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Here near the entrance to the Shimmering Flats players finally discover
the fate of the Galak Centaur tribe. Apparently able to escape from the
killing waters, the tribe has set up a new encampment on the new cliff
expansion on the northern side of the Shimmering Flats.
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The infamous race track that had a special place in more than a few
players’ hearts is gone, swept away by the sea. The only
reminder is the floating debris that lingers on top of the waters here.
A huge trench has also been cut in the middle of the Shimmering Flats
although whether this trench was created with the incoming waters or in
a violent earthquake is unknown.
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On the eastern end of the Shimmering Flats, at the end of the newly
formed trench that runs the length of the zone, players will see
exactly where all this water came from. Here the mountains that once
protected the zone have given way and the waters from the sea are free
to rush in.
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Thanks to this new entrance to the sea Southsea Pirates have invaded
the Shimmering Flats and have created a stronghold along the south
eastern cliffs. Cannons line the edges of the cliffs and it’s
clear that these pirates are in it for the long haul and will most
likely be a permanent fixture in the zone.
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Near the pirates players will come across Magus Tirth. Once a chicken
vendor at the Mirage Raceway, Magus attempted to stop the flooding of
Thousand Needles and when he failed he went a little…mad.
Now he’s hostile to all players and has unfortunately
recaptured his once apprentice “Plucky” Johnson and
places the blame for his failure on him. Because of this Magus fires
Frost and Fire balls at the terrified “Plucky”.
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Leaving Magus behind players will find that if they are up for a little
swimming, the path to Tanaris remains relatively intact and useable.
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At the Rushtmaul Dig Site (now known as the Sunken Dig Site) it appears
that not even water can kill off those pesky Silithids. The flying
Silithids hover just above the water while those not gifted with flight
remain below the waters, wandering around the Dig Site as if nothing
has changed.
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Floating on the waters above the Dig Site is a rather unusual site. A
small boat exuding cold sits here. On closer inspection players will
discover the boat is inhabited by a little Gnome by the name of
Brivelthwerp and he wants to sell you ice cream. Tigule and
Foror’s Strawberry Ice Cream to be exact. Brivelthwerp could
once be found at the Mirage Raceway, but since it was utterly
destroyed, has found a more creative way to peddle his wares.
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Much like Brivelthwerp nothing can keep good Goblins and Gnomes down.
Any proof needed of that lies in the center of the Shimmering Flats
where the survivors from the Mirage Raceway have created a barge of
epic proportions. Named Fizzle and Pozzik’s Speedbarge, the
barge contains all the comforts a Gnome or Goblin could want, as well
as whatever could be salvaged from the raceway. There are also flight
paths for both Horde and Alliance on board.
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Leaving the Shimmering
Flats and back into Thousand Needles proper
players will find along the freshly formed
southern ridges a rather
disturbing site. Here Twilight forces have set up shop and are slowly
corrupting the land. Dark rituals are being performed and some very
scary beings have been summoned. None of this bodes well for Thousand
Needles.
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Further down the cliff line more Twilight forces can be found in the
Twilight Bulwark. Here players will find Magatha Grimtotem, leader of
the Grimtotems, chained to a rather evil looking device. She asks to be
freed, but after the poisoning of Caine can any Grimtotem be trusted?
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At Highperch, the home of the proud wyverns and their nests, players
will find that the waters have made their way here but to a lesser
extent. Highperch and it’s wyverns could have survived.
However, the Twilight forces that have settled close by have decided
that the wyverns have valuable tools. They are attempting to tame the
wyverns by force, and battles between wyverns and Twilight forces rage
in Highperch.
Sadly though, the wyverns appear to be losing, and even their young
have been cruelly netted. The wyvern leader, Heartrazor, has been
restrained and is kept far away from his kin probably in an attempt to
break their spirits. All in all the Twilight forces treatment of the
wyverns is far different from the Horde who only take the eggs and
offer thanks for them. It leaves us to wonder if the Twilight forces
manage to tame all the wyverns here where the Horde will go to obtain
their Wind Rider mounts.
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On the cliff side near Feralas the remaining Horde forces can be found
in a place called Westreach Summit. Things aren’t going so
well here though, as Grimtotem forces have launched a brutal attack.
For now the Summit Defenders are holding their own, but the odds look
grim. Despite the fighting an active Horde flight path can be found
here.
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Camp E’thok has been consumed by the waters and much like the
scene in Splithoof Craig most of the buildings remain in tact
underwater with some debris littering the surface. Hopefully these
centaurs and the panther they once held captive were able to make it to
safety.
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This concludes our journey through Thousand Needles, so wring out your
clothes, drain the water from your ears and join us on our forums to
share your thoughts on the changes seen in this zone.
To read the latest guides, news, and features you can visit our World of Warcraft Game Page.
