Phase 5 Overview – WoW Classic
First, a brief overview of where the Qiraji originated in the first place. Long before the Titans began ordering things around on Azeroth, the Old Gods had found their way here and established their Black Empire. From the fleshy tendrils and organic matter that they excreted, the insectoid Aqir eventually arose.
After the defeat of the Black Empire, the Aqir were driven underground, but eventually emerged with a singular mind to eradicate all non-insectoid life on Azeroth. They warred against the Trolls of Kalimdor, but were in the end defeated and split up into three sub-factions: the Nerubians of Azjol-Nerub, the Mantid of Manti’vess, and the Qiraji of Ahn’Qiraj.
The Aqir were some of the first races on Azeroth, under the rule of the Old Gods.
But saying “the Qiraji of Ahn’Qiraj” might be simplifying it. You see, Ahn’Qiraj (probably under a different name) was originally a Titan facility, constructed to imprison the Old God C’thun. The part of the Aqir who retreated into the facility went into hibernation, and while in hibernation, C’thun was able to influence them even further and turn them into the distinct Qiraji race (similar things happened to the Aqir who retreated to Northrend and Pandaria, as the Nerubians were molded by Yogg-Saron, and the Mantid by the remains of Y’Shaarj).
Many years passed, and the Troll Empires were no longer the dominant force on Azeroth. The Night Elves established themselves on Kalimdor, and around 975 years before the opening of the Dark Portal, a group of Druids were working in Silithus. Sent by Arch Druid Fandral Staghelm and under the command of his son Valstann, these Druids were making an effort to revitalize the desert landscape.
In their research, they stumbled upon the ruins of Ahn’Qiraj. The Qiraji sensed their presence, and they stirred from their hibernation. C’thun, in turn, took this opportunity to exact control over the awakened Qiraji and spared little time before sending them out to ravage the lands of Kalimdor.
This was the beginning of the War of the Shifting Sands.
The Night Elves quickly rallied to protect their lands. Fandral Staghelm personally led their armies, together with his son Valstann. While there was a smaller group of higher-status Qiraji that led the insectoids, there was a vast, nearly endless army of lesser Qiraji called the Silithid. These Silithid threw themselves recklessly at the defending Night Elves, as they expanded their reach not only to Silithus but also to surrounding regions.
Months of back-and-forth assaults ensued. Sometimes the Night Elves would be able to push the Qiraji back; other times they would lose ground. Gradually, the Night Elves were able to push the Silithid back into Silithus and were preparing to finish the war once and for all.
But in a tactical assault, the Qiraji were able to divide the Night Elven forces. They attacked a village behind the Kaldorei lines, and Fandral’s son Valstann insisted he led a contingent to defend the village. Fandral reluctantly allowed this – a decision he would regret for the rest of his life.
Valstann was defeated, and in a show of force, a Qiraji general ripped Valstann in half in front of Fandral. Stricken by grief, Fandral lost focus and led his forces in a retreat to Un’goro.
The Night Elves could not finish this fight alone. The Bronze Dragons of the Caverns of Time in Tanaris had also been attacked by the Silithid and joined the fight. But even with the entire Night Elven nation joining the fight, it was not enough. The Bronze Dragon Anachronos reached out for aid from the other Dragonflights, and they answered. Merithra, child of Ysera of the green flight, Caelestrasz, child of Alexstrasza from the red, and Arygos, child of Malygos from the blue, joined the fray.
In a desperate last push into Silithus, the Dragons and Night Elves pushed the Qiraji back to the walls of Ahn’Qiraj. But once there, the Silithid seemed endless. For every 50 they slew, another 100 appeared. Countless Night Elves and Bronze Dragons fell.
The remains of a Bronze dragon are still present in Silithus to this day.
There was no victory in sight. Together with the Dragons, Fandral decided that the only solution would be to seal the Qiraji within the walls of Ahn’Qiraj. The dragons Merithra, Caelestrasz, and Arygos saw only one way to ensure the success of this plan, and flew into the city itself to keep the Silithid forces back for long enough for the barrier to be created.
Fandral and his Druids added their powers to Anachronos’, and together they raised the barrier. Roots and stone sealed the walls themselves, and an invisible magical barrier stopped the flying Qiraji from leaving the city.
The gates were sealed once, and they stand sealed still.
Anachronos transformed a dune scarab into a metallic golem and similarly transformed the remains of one of his fallen dragons into a scepter. Using the scepter on the gong would open the gates once more of Ahn’Qiraj, Anachronos told Fandral. Still grief-stricken, Fandral shattered the scepter and declared that he wanted “nothing to do with Silithus, the Qiraji and least of all, any damned dragons!”
Will you Bang the Gong and open the gates of Ahn’Qiraj?
Now, hundreds of years later, some Qiraji have found their way out of their prison. Silithid forces have started showing up all around Kalimdor, and a larger threat is looming. It’s time for both the Alliance and Horde to rally together, gather resources in a mighty War Effort, and open the gates of Ahn’Qiraj to defeat the Qiraji once and for all!
Phase 5 of the Anniversary realms will be live soon! Will you be contributing to the War Effort? Or have you been preparing for the Scepter of the Shifting Sands questline? Let us know in the comments below!
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