October 15th, 2007

WoW: Gaining Entry Into The Black Temple

Illidan thundered from atop the mountain, high into the Black Temple: “You are not prepared” and we all were mesmerized by the power of his words as The Burning Crusade was just released. It became a ruse between friends, while going out for a beer: “You are not prepared!” Pretty much it was the Bud commercial of WoW and we were all laughing. But ascension to the outer reaches of the Temple proved to be somewhat more difficult than first anticipated. It wasn’t until 4 months ago that Blizzard released patch 2.1 and with it players were granted entrance as high end guilds enjoying the spoils with great expenditure. About 220 guilds in the world reached Illidan and defeated him, on an average of one guild each four realms. I though it would be a good idea to run a guide for the Black Temple, including every boss fight, facing Illidan and many lore insertions on the way, so today I’ll start with the attunement part.

Both Scryers and Aldor will eventually guide you to seek out the Ashtongue Deathsworn and befriend their ranks through a series of works. Seek out your quest giver deep into Shadowmoon Valley, for they are hosted at The Sanctum of the Stars and The Altar of Sha’Tar, depending of your affiliation. The first four quests are similar and you will have to venture into the Ruins of Baa’Ri and recover the three Baa’Ri tablets for either faction. This place used to be a Draenei city before Gul’Dan buried it into ash and flame with a volcanic explosion, giving birth to the nearby mountain: The Hand of Gul’Dan. The tablets are to be found on the ground and workers occasionally drop them, but the area is hell to navigate without a flying mount and consequently below level 70. You will always have to fight at least two creatures, so expect many agro pulls, patrols and hostile Ashtongue spawning on top of you.

Once acquired, the tablets will reveal news of a great artifact called The Medallion of Karabor, a piece worn only by the highest of the old Draenei priests serving in the Temple. It was this medallion that granted them free access through the gates of the revered Temple so you must find more from Akama’s orders. Akama is the leader of the Ashtongue and Oronu the Elder is his lieutenant in Baa’Ri. He is to be found in the only building left standing amongst the Ruins of Baa’Ri and is heavily guarded.

Akama’s Orders will reveal that a medallion has been broken into four pieces and can be found among four Ashtongue Corruptors across Shadowmoon Valley. These decayed shamans will not engage in combat when they see you but whenever you strike down one of their focus crystals, elementals will appear. Each corruptor will engage you once the last stone is broken, and although they don’t do incredible damage, on occasions they can nuke with two instant abilities one after the other. Haalum, Corruptor of Air, waits at Netherwing Pass. Eykenen and Uylaru, Corruptors of Earth and Fire, dwell in the Fel Pits near the Hand of Gul'dan. Lakaan, Corruptor of Water, stays with the tainted water elementals near Coilskar Point.

To much dismay you soon find out that your efforts only recovered half the medallion, and Akama most likely has the other one. Confrontation is unavoidable so a word with the jailor at The Warden’s Cage is in order, none other than the leader of the Ashtongue Deathsworn himself. It’s a place filled with Illidari demons, imps and satyrs, and the actual location we’re looking for is deep underground. In fact you need to swim left and work your way below to reach Akama. I was prepared for the worst, with Akama and two defenders cramped up, so little room to maneuver, but then something happened.

Akama used to be a proud Draenei priest when the Temple of Karabor was filled with the divine light. That all came to and end once the Burning Legion took over Draenor and orcs roamed the land. With the temple overrun by demons and fell orcs, Magtheridon became the new ruler of the land as the remaining Draenei were enslaved. So great was the punishment that their bodies decayed into the form of the broken, the Ashtongue we see now. Akama and his tribe retreated in Zangarmarsh and lived in seclusion until Illidan Stormrage came about. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, thus the Ashtongue came into the service of Illidan. Akama sealed off the portals used by Magtheridon to summon reinforcements and helped Illidan enter the Black Temple to duel and later imprison Magtheridon. But not everything went as planned when in fact Akama just changed one master for another and his people were not closer to redemption. Still, he couldn’t directly oppose Illidan. A fragment of his soul was still bound to the Betrayer's will in the form of the Shade of Akama.

Akama is a shrewd and wise tactician and will not have your blood on his hands. An alliance of convenience is proffered, as we both want to enter the Black Temple and defeat Illidan, moreover as this meeting has been foretold in Akama’s dreams, just like Velen’s Exodus and the fall of the Temple of Karabor. He and his elite guard, the Ashtongue Deathsworn, tried to re-discover the now severed connection to the Light and the Naaru that had aided them in their escape from Argus, thousands of years ago. But first an Illidari spy must be killed for the satyr Zandras is watching you even now. A short fight will dispatch him from his patrolling routes on the Warden’s Cage walls, a suitable Proof of Allegiance.

There is not much choice in the matter either way, so you need to carry out Akama’s will and inform your Aldor or Scryer connection of the new alliance. While departing the scene, you notice someone lurking in the dark cell behind Akama, no other than Maiev Shadowsong herself, trapped in her attempt to face Illidan.

It takes great deal of anticipation for one to fool a powerful being as Illidan, so you won’t feel that bad when you learn that the medallion you are holding is nothing but a fake, a replica. It’s a good thing you and Akama are still friends, thus he reveals to you the location of the next and final piece of the puzzle. Seer Udalo has the missing fragment but Kael’Thas keep him imprisoned in Arcatraz, the most well guarded of the Naaru prisons, a place where beings of great power reside, including remnants of the Qiraji swarms. You need a flying mount to reach any of the Netherstorm Tempest Keep instances and Arcatraz also requires a key, or a very crafty rogue with more than 350 skill to open it up for you. Past the second boss and close to the final chamber you will discover Uldao’s lifeless body. You arrived too late to save a martyr’s life, but the final piece is in your grasp, as you decipher the words Atam’Al on the medallion. Akama must know their meaning.

A fragmented Medallion of Karabor is useless. Surely there is a power source strong enough to light a spark into the centuries old artifact. Lore tells tale of a potent Atam’Al crystal called The Heart of Fury. Fell orcs now inhabit the place and cloud its presence away from the Naaru by dark magic. Since Akama’s Deathsworn must not openly interfere with Illidan’s minions, it’s your job to get Shadowlord Deathwail. Upon reaching the crystal, enemies arrive in three waves so a balanced group of four is suggested. If you are a ranged damage dealer, you can just fly on a nearby pillar and wait until every wave despawns or even kill them outright since they won’t agro unless there is a patch to leading up to you. Killing the mounted fel orc, Shadowlord Deathwail, is a different matter though, but he can be snared and soloed if you’re good enough.

Crystal in hand, Akama performs the last arrangements as you see the Medallion glowing with great power. It is now yours and seeing A’dal now will fulfill Akama’s Promise and grant you six decent blue items to choose from as reward.

I thought this was it, but no, Blizzard chained the quest even further in the 2.1 patch release. It wouldn’t have been fair to let you enter The Black Temple without killing off everything there to kill in The Serpentshire Cavern (SSC) and Tempest Keep (TK). From now on you will require a guild to run these quests as 25-man instance runs are needed. In the end, the natural dungeon progression will enable you to defeat Lady Vashj and Kael’Thas, then after a quick struggle in Hyjal, the way will be made clear.

Seer Olum would like to have a work with you once you dispatch Fathom Lord Karathress in SSC (the caged Ashtongue nearby). If Karathress had Olum in his grasp, then the secret is compromised and will eventually reach Illidan’s ears. There is no time to waste.

Cunning as ever, Akama devises a plan to sow dissent inside Illidan’s powerhouse by turning the ambitious blood elf price against his liege. You are to infiltrate Tempest Keep: The Eye disguised as one of the Ashtongue Illidari servants, then slay Al’Ar, Kael’ Thas most prized phoenix pet. There is no better way to strike an unstable alliance than stirring up blood elf pride. There is a big leap afterwards, as you need to get into The Battle of Mount Hyjal in Caverns of Time and slay the first boss, Rage Winterchill. You'll loot an artifact from the past that will be the final ingredient in restoring the medallion to its full strength.This is the part where you need Kael’Thas and Lady Vashj both dead, in order to enter Hyjal. Most casual guilds are already knee deep into Tempest Keep by now so I would expect more and more players to follow up until this point in the near future. Pretty much what you need to do now is talk to A’dal in Shattrath, then see Xi’Ri at the Black Temple entrance and you will be off, attuned and with The Medallion of Karabor in hand. Remember that you need to carry the item in your inventory whenever going inside the temple, otherwise you will not be permitted to. The story doesn’t end here though, as the real fun is just beginning. Soon I will detail every boss fight into The Black Temple up until Illidan.