SwagVault MMO Blog

Most Beautiful Warhammer Areas

August 31, 2009 – 3:15 am
Posted by: sisilia

The Warhammer World is a vast and varied place filled with dark dungeons, lofty peaks, grim fortresses, blood-soaked plains and dense forests. From the staggering natural beauty of Ulthuan to the ordered symmetry of Dwarf mines and the riotously haphazard Orcish warcamps, every zone is unique. No doubt you have your own favorite places. Perhaps you saw it unfold before you for the first time and your jaw dropped, perhaps it was the site of your favorite battle or you just really, really liked the way things were laid out. Everyone has their own reasons for liking a place.

 

We thought we’d share ours with you. Maybe you’ll see familiar places in a new way or maybe you’ll be tempted to put your wandering boots on and savor the scenery in a place you’ve never been to before. So now, in no particular order, here are a handful of places in-game that are special to our staff. We’d love to hear yours.

 

French CSR Frederic Normand told us about Avelorn. In his own words:

 

“The morning sun rises in Avelorn. In the heart of ancestral forests-the Everqueen’s sanctuary ? sun rays pierce through the intertwined foliage.

 

Calling the morning mists to their rest, the emerald robe of dawn fades onto the waters of the salty lake.

 

The strange, ethereal ghosts drawl their crepuscular train to the hollow banks ? shelter for drowsy carps and alert pikes.

 

Little by little, “the blue eye of the forest” opens, glittering, as the mists begin to sleep. An opiated breeze blends together the most subtle plant scents, smelt by the senses of nature-shivering under its mossy drape.

 

Scattered among the mist, shadows are moving¡­

 

The pulsating breath of the forest caresses the silhouettes of Alarielle’s Maidenguard. Their shadows move with a grace taken from the silk strings of the “silver weavers”.

 

The queen’s defenders brush against the elegant reeds and set them dancing which docile ferns ? bending under the dew ? salute by doing courteous curtseys.

 

The bird’s proud trill ? startled while dreaming ? is bravado in staccato which is heard by one of the loyal guards.

 

It wondered if it should take off or not, but the shadow of the sylph had already gone past, ignoring the small bird. Its uncertain cheeps irritate its neighbours who reply with flute-like twittering first polite and dispassionate ? we’re in Ulthuan after all, where even birds know how to behave-but quickly followed with high-pitched and more sour snubbing, and then echoing from nests to nests For sure, those small feathered creatures were now calling each other names!

 

Suddenly, all goes quiet ! A shiver runs down the spines of every forest being; gone is their vehemence, which is now replaced by fear. The protectors of Alarielle’s kingdom are on the lookout as a hungry manticore roars up in the sky ! A manticore, come from beyond the seas Impossible!

 

And all of a sudden, “they” appear as the creature is looming above their heads. More growls from daemonic felines soon answer hers

 

In the distance, dark figures hide the solar disc and loom above the river The sinister sails of the Dark Elves’ drakkars cast gigantic shadows ? shaped like nightmarish creatures roaming in the meander of the forest now completely still! Those cold avatars, bigger than dragons, hold the invisible reins that bind them to the frigates­ On their deck, the hisses of Khaine’s serpent brood are getting stronger ? With Elves’ bewitching litanies, Black Guards’ guttural chants and Disciples’ curses!

 

Prophetic storm clouds are massing in, loaded with bitter vengeance as they could not spill their malicious ire onto this place of eternal summer­

 

War in Avelorn is bringing a stain of corruption. Arrows are shot, infernos devour the world ? the Queen is in danger!”

 

Very poetic, Frederic!

 

Alex Chavanne, English CSR tells us about the Apex:

“ I remember back in the Beta, the first time I was walking back towards the flight master after visiting the Temples of Khorne and Slaanesh at the south end of the map, being blown away by the image in front of me.

 

“The massive pulsing warp storm, sending rippling waves of energy above the Inevitable City and the raw power of the Apex being flared and stabbing upwards into the belly of the sky. I was like;  No way Order have anything this cool in Altdorf.

 

“Looking down over the Order lands in Troll Country, it just seems appropriate that the sun is setting over the cliffs.  I can’t help but feel that’s a metaphor for the sun setting on the Order’s reign over the lands. The sight is just awe-inspiring, as soon as I saw the cliffs above the ravine in Troll Country I knew I had to climb to the top just to see what it looked like from above, and I wasn’t disappointed.

Watching the birds catching currents in the wind and drifting up against the sky is just amazing, and the silhouetted cliffs in the background set it off perfectly.

 

Apart from the aesthetics, the place is important to me because I’ve spilled the blood of many around those cliffs, and the screams of the Bright Wizards always come running right back to me when I go there. Though sometimes, the screams aren’t just a memory!”

 

The Wings of Chaos inspired Paul Murphy, another English CSR to say this:

“I really like this place because it stands our form all other scenery in Warhammer. It was the coolest place I have seen in game and when you first see it after going through the portal all you can say is AWESOME!

 

“I’ve fought for many years, been in many battles, seen many horrible things killed many a foe and lost many friends. But all that’s changed now. I live a simpler life, I am one with nature. It’s peaceful here. No worries, no cares, no fears. I am home.”

“Dem stunties wantz deir ztone face back, but dem iz ztupid, dat iz nothin’ like Mork or Gork. Dem stunties muzt go back to deir holez.

 

No really, I like this place, was my first taste of the brutal conflict between the dwarfs and the greenskins. Both factions have objectives on this PQ so on a RvR realm it is a real test of mettle and a good opportunity to gain much needed first hand battle experience for the zones ahead.”