Project Lore

I've always thought that murlocs have an odd cuteness to them (despite that crazy grrlrgglglg!!  noise they make - actually, maybe because of it!). But on the cuteness scale, nothing compares to murloc babies. As I headed back to Borean Tundra after questing through Zul'Drak and still not dinging level 77, I joined the ranks of those of us who have learned just how adorable these little creatures are. It all starts when King Mrgl-Mrgl sends you on a mission (what I would argue to be one of the cutest quests I've experienced yet in game) to rescue 20 Winterfin Tadpoles that have been encaged by the evil (or perhaps just misunderstood) Makrura Claximus (seriously, who would ever want to mistreat these little buggers?) Conveniently, while doing this quest, you also can complete Them!, a quest in which Brglmurgl (love these onomatopoeia names) asks you to kill 15 of the murloc savages. As you ravage through the encampment and open up cage after cage, you'll amass an army of murloc babies running behind you and gurgling the occasional "mama!" Later, you face off with Claximus himself after disguising yourself in a murloc costume (complete with a white flag) and parading right past his minions. I would consider the borrowed murloc suit to be another high point of the zone (if you look close enough, you can even see little heart boxer shorts peeking through the zipper opening in the back). Anyone else find it hard to believe that such a costume would fool anyone, much less another murloc? Perhaps they're not the smartest humanoids around. I seriously debated not turning that quest in so I could keep the costume. But alas, you can only wear it while in Winterfin Village  (another option - go back in time and attend Blizzcon 2007 so I can get a similar version of the suit!). I obliged and turned the damn thing in. But not before getting in a little /dance action in costume. I don't know about you guys, but all these quests have got me really wanting a RL murloc. Yes, I know they are humanoids in-game, but I can't help but think they would make for a fun pet, if you could train one to maintain its baby sweetness. I suppose I'll have to settle with Grunty, or maybe a murloc plushy -- if I can ever manage to find one that's not sold out. What are your feelings on the murloc race? Love them? Hate them? Want to eat them? I've seen some people argue in the past that murlocs should be made into a playable race in the next expansion. But I'd be content to just have one as a lovable companion!

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The Nexus is the level 70 section of the first instance players encounter in the Borean Tundra. The Nexus is located in the center of Coldarra on the western side of the zone. It is accessible via the Transitus Shield flight point or by flying mount. Inside are a variety of mobs including dragonkin, humanoids, and elementals. There are four bosses inside on normal mode with an extra boss available on Heroic. As with all  Wrath of the Lich King instances, there is no special way to unlock heroic mode, one simply needs to be level 80 to enter. The Nexus has a very open layout and the bosses other than the final boss can be done in any order. The most efficient way to clear the instance begins with a left turn. Head left down the hallway and continue to the left down into an open room with enemies frozen in ice blocks. Do not be fooled, these enemies will unfreeze as soon as you get too near. Midway through this corridor on heroic mode is the extra boss, Commander Stoutbeard for Horde groups and Commander Kolurg for Alliance groups. Be careful not to mistake for another trash pull, as this could result in a wipe. After this room, continue straight up the ramp on the other side and go immediately to the right. The group at the end of the hallway can be avoided completely, and there is a group in the room to the right prior to Grand Magus Telestra in the back of the room. Once Grand Magus Telestra is dead, continue straight across the hallway staying to the left to avoid unnecessary pulls. Move through the corridors and into a large open space with a few platforms connected by bridges. In this room are Unstable Rifts, which should be the first focus fire target of the group in order to stop extra mobs from spawning. Be careful not to fall off of any of the platforms into the pit below, as this will end in death. Move straight through this area and drop off of the last platform straight ahead to avoid an optional pull. Go to the left clearing the dragonkin and elementals and head up the ramp towards the next boss, Anomalus. Once Anomalus is dead, exit his room by leaving his platform, turning left and moving straight ahead to a large crystalline cave. Upon entering, head to the left and follow the cave around towards the next boss encounter. In this corridor are many small elementals that will respawn shortly after they are killed, so stay on the move to avoid too much fighting. There is also a pat that gets very close to the boss, so be sure to clear them before pulling Ormorok the Tree-Shaper. Looking at Ormorok's platform, there is a somewhat hidden shortcut to the entrance of the cave on the right side. Go up into that cave and drop down from it, ready to engage a few mobs that may be lingering below. From there, you should see the final boss who is now able to be freed from the Ice Block. Kill the Dragonkin wandering nearby and when you are ready to engage Keristrasza, use the blue orbs in the room to free her.

Grand Magus Telestra

Abilities

• Firebomb: Deals fire damage to everyone in a 5 yard radius around the target
• Ice Nova: Freeze all party members in the room, dealing around 3500 frost damage and stunning them in ice blocks for 3 seconds.
• Gravity Well: Throws all party members around her, rapidly dealing 75 Shadow damage over and over for 6 sec.
• Split Personality: Telestra will split into 3 enemies. When all of them are dead, she returns as one in her single form. The three enemies are:
  • Arcane: Casts Critter, a polymorph spell lasting 3 seconds and Time Stop, stunning all party members for 2 seconds.
  • Fire: Casts Fire Blast and Scorch
  • Frost: Casts Blizzard and Ice Barb.

Strategy

This is a simple but hectic fight. Try to spread out initially to avoid too many people being hit by the firebomb and take her down as quickly as possible. Through the Gravity Well portion, instant cast abilities can and should continue to be utilized. When Telestra splits, target the arcane version of her first as the polymorph and time stop abilities are the most likely to get people killed. Also, avoid the Blizzard as much as possible and kill the remaining two copies. Once they are dead, resume normal attacks on her.

Heroic

The only real change here is that she will split twice through the fight. Other than that, there are no major deviations.

Anomalus

Abilities

• Create Rift: Creates a Chaotic Rift. The rift will cast Chaotic Energy Burst which deals arcane damage at a single target jumping to anyone in a 15 yard range. The rift will also periodically create a Crazed Mana Wraith.
• Charge Rifts: Anomalus will cast this at 75%, 50% and 25% health, This makes him invulnerable for 45 seconds or until the rift is destroyed. The charged rifts will also create wraiths much more quickly and cast Charged Chaotic Energy Burst, which has an unlimited range.
• Spark: An arcane bolt spell.

Strategy

The key to this fight is destroying any rifts that are created as quickly as possible before the damage they deal and the adds they spawn can overwhelm you. As soon as rifts are spawned, all DPS can target them and destroy them easily. If your DPS is high enough, it is also feasible to burn the boss until he goes immune and then take care of the rifts and adds that have come up, then repeat. The safer strategy, though, is to immediately kill the rifts as they spawn.

Heroic

No major changes on heroic, the same strategy can be used.

Ormorok the Tree-Shaper

Abilities

• Crystal Spikes:creates a series of spikes in straight lines out from Ormorok that will eventually shoot anyone standing on them into the air. These can be avoided by strafing away from them or by standing directly underneath the boss.
• Frenzy: Increases his damage, can be dispelled.
• Spell Reflection: Reflects spells back at the caster
• Trample: Deals damage to all targets in melee range.

Strategy

This is a rather simple fight, so long as everyone is aware of their surroundings. Avoiding the Crystal Spikes is key to this fight, and if some people are having trouble doing so, stacking underneath the boss and taking the Trample instead of the spikes can be the better option. Dispel the frenzy using tranquilizing shot if possible, and be aware when spell reflection is cast.

Heroic

No major changes, but all damage is increased

Keristrasza

Abilities

• Crystal Chains: Deals frost damage and freezes a single target in place.
• Crystalfire Breath: frontal cone attack dealing frost damage, slowing the target, and dealing Damage over Time
• Crystallize: AoE dealing frost damage and freezing all targets in place.
• Enrage: Increases damage, cast at around 25%.
• Intense Cold: Stacking Debuff that is removed upon any movement including jumping. All party members should move or jump constantly or between casts to keep it from stacking.
• Tail Sweep: Deals damage and knocks back party members in a cone behind her.

Strategy

The party should be on Keristrasza's sides during the fight to avoid the breath attack and the tail sweep. All party members should move as much as possible by either strafing or jumping to clear the intense cold debuff as often as possible. Both roots can and should be dispelled to stop the intense cold from stacking too high. Additionally, abilities that remove roots such as mages blink, druids shapeshift, etc canbe used to get out of it. The DoT and slowing effect from the breath can also be dispelled but is not a high priority. The enrage at around 25% can be dispelled by tranquilizing shot if you have a hunter.

Heroic

No major changes, but all damage is increased

Commander Stoutbeard / Commander Kolurg (Heroic)

Abilities

• Charge: Targets the furthest party member.
• Whirlwind: AoE that can one-shot party members with low health pools.
• Frightening Shout: AoE fear.

Strategy

Pull the Commander away from the next few trash pulls to avoid getting feared into adds. Two caster adds will pull with him and they should be CC'd or focus fired first. Melee needs to be aware of when the Whirlwind is being cast and should run away as soon as he begins or they could be killed in a single hit. All other party members should stay out of melee range to avoid it, as well.

Lore

The Nexus is the home of Malygos, Aspect of the Blue Dragonflight. Inside, Malygos has determined that mortals are misuing magic and wants to put a stop to it. Using the Arcanomicon, a map of Ley Lines trusted to him long ago, Malygos is locating the Ley Lines and channeling the magical powers in them to the Nexus and blasting them into Twisting Nether. This is causing many problems in Azeroth, opening unstable rifts and cracking open the planet's crust. The mages of the Kirin Tor are determined to stop Malygos from his goals as they need the arcane power to practice their magic. Additionally, the Red Dragonflight will not allow Malygos to destroy the planet, as they are the protectors of life on Azeroth.

Inside, Grand Magus Telestra is one of the Kirin Tor mages who have sided with Malygos in an attempt to preserve her power. Anomalus was spawned along with the rifts that were caused by Malygos' plan to divert all of the arcane energy into the Twisting Nether. Ormorok the Tree Shaper is an elemental who has been corrupted by the high amounts of arcane energy passing through the Nexus. Keristrasza is part of the Red Dragonflight, originially loyal to Alexstrasza. She temporarily held off Malygos by killing his consort, Saragosa, but was captured by Malygos and was forced to become his new consort. Killing her after freeing her from her prison in the Nexus will restore her freedom.

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I'm not sure if any of you had heard, but Wrath of the Lich King launched yesterday! Somehow, people are already hitting level 80, as there is proof of Nymh, a Level 80 Human Warlock (Alliance FTW) right here on the Armory. It makes sense that the first eighty was on the EU servers, as their time zones had a few hours of a head start to get the record. Personally, I've only leveled a couple of times, but I cannot get enough of Northrend. I am enjoying pretty much every single quest I've done. I'm a bit of a quest-a-holic, and I'm going for both the Loremaster and 3000 quest achievements, so I finished up in Borean Tundra and headed over to Howling Fjord. I figure if I'm going to be doing these quests anyway, I may as well get XP for them. What level are you guys a day and a half in? Vote on this poll! I'm guessing most are in the 71 area, but I've seen a bunch of mid 70s on Executus, so let us know.

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