Topic
How did YOU survive the Cataclysm?
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Standing in front of the massive gates of the shelter, Slithra, for the first time in many years, has felt something akin to pride and accomplishment. This was a culmination of two years of preparation, toil and occasional daredevil antics. The massive titan complex, long lost and buried beneath the sands of Tanaris, was restored and reconditioned for a new purpose in face of the world's upcoming upheaval.
Slithra's mind wandered to the feats she and a handful of her acquaintances from the Silvermoon historical society have performed that made such an endeavor possible. Meticulous gathering and analysis of seismic and leyline activity from around the world to establish that, indeed, a massive upheaval of the world is due to occur. Convincing others to believe a seemingly unproven theory, knowing that when storms and earthquakes begin to manifest, it would be already too late. A search for benefactors willing to take her warnings seriously, commit to her plight and fund an expedition. Long, methodical sweeping of the endless sands, searching for the structure mentioned to be in this desolate region by ancient scriptures, engravings and talking machines. Fending off thirst, ferocious wildlife and the occasional raiders as a base of operations was being built. A daring heist to hijack construction equipment and mole machines from the Dark Irons once magister Kelendor's scryings finally established the entrance to the complex was deeper underground than one would ever hope to reach by digging manually. Finally, an ancient power core which was recovered from the depths of Ulduar was brought here all the way from across the world. Slithra has seen firsthand how the very presence of these seemingly inexhaustible energy sources causes the walls of Wintergrasp Keep to rebuild themselves mere minutes after being torn down in a hail of bombs and flaming boulders. This vault, too, has reawakened by the core's presence. Collapsed ceilings straightened and awakened mechanical creatures swept away the rubble, caring little about the sudden invaders. The shelter was at long last complete; a bastion in one of the world's most remote and stable areas to stand defiant against the prophecised Cataclysm. And yet, the shelter was not meant to protect people. Instead, it housed untold quantities of cultural wealth - treatises on magic, science, religion and other accomplishments of Azeroth's many cultures, written by the hands of men, orcs, elves and every race which has come to record its history and legacy. Countless works of art - originals and copies. Chronicles of ages long past telling of the rise and fall of civilizations, deeds of honor and treachery. Tales of glorious utopian societies ruined by arrogance and greed. Of evil overlords rising to power and being brought to justice. Of nobles and commoners alike taking up arms to defend their loved ones and their way of life. Of different races casting aside rivalry and superstition and standing against a common foe. Of peace, war, love, valor, sacrifice, and all that comprised life upon Azeroth. |
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Though life was nearly certain to survive any calamity that did not involve complete and utter destruction of the planet, societal downfall and collapse in the wake of a world-wide disaster may be inevitable. Societies may once again descend into barbarism and anarchy, forgetting their past and heritage. And Slithra was not intent on letting that happen. The vault has been clearly marked with arcane beacons designed to stand for many milennia. Regardless of what occurs during the impending apocalypse, eventually, someone is bound to discover it and unveil the tales of the past.
Taking a last glance at the already sealed complex, she asked a holographic Lore Keeper - whose pedestal was established outside to ultimately provide access to the complex - to perform status check for the last time. The workers and scientists have already left a few days ago - their aid was needed in helping citizens evacuate the burning capital cities, collapsing under the relentless assault of elementals, but Slithra, being one of the few to stick with the project from its conception, was hesitant to leave it to its fate, despite realizing that, ultimately, the only thing she could do now is to hope for the best. Pacing towards her mechano-hog, she turned the ignition key. A massive phlogiston boiler under the machine's frame sprung to life, and the motorcycle's wide ribbed wheels effortlessly plowed through the sands beneath the starry desert sky. It would take her at least several days in the saddle to return to Horde territory and ensure she is with her comrades in arms when the time comes, and her food and water was already running low. Regardless, she had enough supplies; what she didn't have enough, as it turned out, was time. The sky darkened with clouds of ash as the hog left the expanse of the Shimmering Flats. The ground shook underneath its wheels, as if it was a living creature in throes of pain. Navigating carefully around the stone spires of Thousand Needles, many of which have been on the verge of collapse, Slithra narrowed her eyes and slammed the pedal, sticking to the road whenever it was possible, determined to get through the potentially dangerous region as soon as possible. And then she heard it. At first, she mistook it for a noise in the engine caused by traversing rough terrain. And yet, it kept getting louder and eventually eclipsed the engine itself. One glance at the rear mirror was enough for her to turn the engine to emergency overdrive and never look back again. Water. A wall of water, advancing at a steady pace and consuming all that it encountered in its path. Stone pillars crumbled, flimsy tents of a long abandoned centaur settlement swept away. It was not particularly fast, almost as if held back by its own bulk. The trusty machine could outrun it... just barely. |
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The next two hours have turned into a life-or-death slalom as the gigantic wave pursued the motorcycle through the narrow, winding canyons. Many times, stone pillars collapsed across the road, forcing Slithra to lose precious seconds to circumvent the obstacle.
Eventually, though, the winding path gave way into a straight and open stretch, where the tide was no longer constrained. Slithra could smell the seawater, the deluge almost lapping at the wheels. The water almost caught up to her. It was then that she saw a wide ledge high above her, upon one of the canyon's mountainous walls; leather tents have lined its borders and a horned figure waved at her, the tauren's shout silenced by the water's roar. Racing towards the wall at full speed, she unplugged a safety pin and tugged at the one lever she has never used before. Her breath was knocked out of her as a rocket charge tore the seat from the motorcycle and thrust it upwards; a seemingly useless addition to an otherwise conventional vehicle which was nevertheless good to boast about amongst fellow engineers. The ejection seat was more than able to get her to the ledge; unfortunately, the parachute was not designed to deploy this quickly. Her consciousness faded as she hit the ground, as the tauren rushed towards her. They were picked off the ledge in several days by a goblin zeppelin, one of the many airships hired by rescue parties to scout the region and deployed as soon as the storm subsided and the sky was clear once again. As she returned to Orgrimmar and was brought up to speed by her colleagues, she could see the damage, while serious, was not quite as catastrophic as she has anticipated. The Horde lived on. She did not know whether to feel relieved or blame herself for her foolishness. Her efforts have been for naught; the massive vault may stand in the desert for millenia, but its purpose is ultimately rendered useless. Or was it? As if to respond to her thoughts, a triumphant roar echoed as a spread-wing shadow darted across the ground. |
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glyph of invisibility
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Illidan called, so i was visiting him at the time. Came back to Orgrimmar and looked at the map, and did a "WTF" face
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Used a Towel.
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Vanished and got out of the AoE
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Reincarnate just after the whole thing ended.
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Jumped through a portal to Shattrath
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Swan dived into the water
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I logged next to the park, and jumped on DW's head. Now I'm slowly killing him... if only I had some hit rating it would go a lot faster, but I'm begging him for new gear atm....WHOA! oops, forgot he had to take a fly past some bridge, too before landing on SW. So yeah...I didn't survive the cataclysm, but without me you would have cars and environmental damage...owait.
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blinked out of the fire, carefully looking that im not near an edge, crater or some nasty elemental, continued that for about an hour before realising that when i actually started this in stormwind, i somehow ended up in darnassus...?
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That was a nice read!
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I didn't, I'm already undead!
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Was in the bathroom, like wtf? :O
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